Class 

Book. D^^A^ 
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CDEmCHT DEPOSIT. 



i 



/ 




/ 



RECOLLECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS 



OF 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



^ Series ofCritera 



ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE AND JOURNAL 
AND THE WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. 



BY REV. HENRY SMITH. 



* I'U praise my Maker while I 've breatli, 
And when my voice is lost in death, 
Praise shall employ my nobler powers." 



GEORGE PECK, EDITOR. 



PUBLISHED BY LANE & TIPPETT, 

FOB THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY.STREET. 
JOSEPH 7. ONGKING, PRINTER. 




184S. 




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by 
G. LANE & C. B. TIPPETT, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern 
District of New- York, 



V 



INTRODUCTION. 



The following work, embracing as it does the auto- 
biography of an old itinerant preacher, cannot but 
be deeply interesting to readers of every class ; but 
especially so must it be to the members and ministers 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A better concep- 
tion of Methodism as it was, and as it is, in this country, 
as well as of the trials, the devotedness, and the 
usefulness, of the Methodist preachers of the past gene- 
ration, will, in the judgment of the writer of these 
introductory remarks, be afforded by the Letters of 
Henry Smith, than by any other publication now 
extant. 

^sTo attempt has been made to amend the style of the 
aged author — its artlessness is attractive and appro- 
priate. The Letters remain as they were originally 
published, with the exception of a few slight cor- 
rections ; and even these were suggested or approved 
by the author himself. The reader, therefore, while 
engaged in the perusal of these pages, may imagine 
himself seated by the fireside in the lowly dwelling of 
this venerable minister of Christ, listening to the rela- 
tion of the events of his past life, in his own simple 
language ; and to the reflections occasioned by the 
recital. If, as Dr. Johnson says, "there has rarely 
passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative 
would not be useful," surely the Recollections and 



4 



INTRODUCTION. 



Reflections" now before us must furnish many pro- 
fitable lessons, and be eminently worthy of attention. 

It will be seen from the Letters themselves, that, at 
the time they were written, the author had no intention 
ever to repubhsh them. He had furnished a letter, 
embracing some interesting incidents relating to the 
introduction and progress of Methodism in the west, 
for the Western Christian Advocate — and this, which 
will be found in its appropriate place in this volume, 
excited so much interest, as to induce a formal appli- 
cation from the corresponding secretary of the Western 
Methodist Historical Society for further details, which 
were cheerfully given, and subsequently published. 
A letter was afterward written for the Christian Ad- 
vocate and Journal; and in compHance ivith the so- 
licitation of Dr. Bond, the senior editor of that Journal, 
the Letters followed which comprise the greater part 
of the series. They are now, in accordance with the 
wishes of esteemed and intelligent friends, presented 
to the public in the present form. " Such as they are," 
says the author, " they cost me much thought and 
labor, and many prayers and tears." They are sent 
forth with fervent prayer to God that they may be 
productive of good. 



IN THE 

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE AND JOURNAL. 



i 



RECOLLECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS 

OF AN 

OLD ITINERANT. 



LETTER I. 

[Dear Brother, — I send you some sketches of my travels 
and labors in early times. I have thought they might be of 
some use to young preachers who complain of hard circuits, 
. rough fare, and poor pay ; but I may be mistaken. 

Very respectfully yours, Henry Smith. 

Pilgrim's Rest, Baltimore county, T)ec. 6, 1840.] 

In August, 1793, I was licensed to preach at 
Milburn's meeting-house, then called Frederick, 
now Winchester circuit, Virginia ; P. Bruce, pre- 
siding elder ; J. Wells, preacher in charge. Early 
in the fall I was requested by Mr. Bruce to take 
Berkley circuit for about six weeks, while my 
much-esteemed brother T. Lyell was absent on a 
visit to his friends. This was a great cross ; but 
I went. Mr. Bruce pressed me to give myself 
up wholly to the work. I hesitated : but, after a 
few weeks, made up my mind, and wrote to him, 
according to his request ; and as I did not go to 
conference, he represented me in the Baltimore 
Annual Conference, held in Baltimore, October, 



8 



RECOLLECTIOJSrS OP 



1793. Mr. Bruce was removed from the district, 
and Lemuel Green took his place ; and the preach- 
ers I met with could not tell whether I was re- 
ceived, or where my appointment was made. 
S. G. Roszel wrote to me some time in the win- 
ter, that Mr. Asburj had appointed me to Talbot 
circuit. Eastern Shore, Md. During this season 
of suspense, my mind was deeply exercised, but I 
was about setting off, when Mr. Green told me it 
was late, and now winter, and I had the bay to 
cross, &c., and he could employ me on Berkley 
circuit till spring. I attended a quarterly meeting 
at Kite's meeting-house, February 8, and from 
thence went into the work, under the direction of 
the presiding elder. Our last quarterly meeting 
was held at Payne's meeting-house, about the 
middle of May. Here the stewards offered me 
quarterage. I hesitated, but was urged to take it. 
As I still had a little money of my own, I doubted 
the propriety of receiving anything for my poor 
services. On this circuit I had many nursing 
fathers and mothers, who were very kind to me — 
but they are all gone to rest. It would afford me 
some gratification to record their names. Not- 
withstanding my great weakness, I had some fruit 
of my labors, and many happy meetings with my 
affectionate friends, and was sorry to part with 
them, but willing to go anywhere. I stayed on 
the circuit a few weeks after the quarterly meet- 
ing, and then sat out, in company with several of 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



9 



the preachers, for conference ; which began June 
3d or 4th5 at Harrisonburg, Eockingham county, 
Virginia. Here I first saw Bishop Asburj. He 
was very poorly, with a bad cold and sore throat, 
and hardly able to sit in conference. They sat in 
rather a small room, with closed doors. About 
fifteen or twenty preachers present. I could give 
nearly all their names from memory. J. Wells, 
T. Fleming, S. G. Roszel, and myself, are the 
only four that are living, as far as I know.* 

When I was called into conference the young 
preachers were under examination. They were 
called up, one by one, and gave in their religious 
experience, and assigned some reasons why they 
thought they were called to the ministry ; and the 
bishop asked them some questions on points of 
doctrine and discipline. He put some close ques- 
tions to some, which alarmed me very much. I 
was the last that was called up. While I told my 
experience, &c., I trembled and wept ; the sym- 
pathies of the preachers were waked up in my 
favor, and the good bishop himself appeared to be 
touched ; for when I was done, he beckoned to 
me with his hand to sit down, and I was much re- 
lieved. And this was all the examination I ever 
passed through. At this conference we had a 
gracious work in the congregation, as well as love 

=^ Since the original publication of this letter, my much- 
loved brethren T. Fleming and S. G. Koszel have finished 
their work, and are now reaping their reward. 



10 



EECOLLECTIONS OF 



and harmony among the preachers. We had but 
few preachers, and little business. I was appointed 
to what was then called Clarksburg circuit, on the 
Monongahela, Yirginia. The lower part of our 
circuit began at Martin's meeting-house, and ex- 
tended up as high as Buchanan. The conference 
adjourned on the 5th. On the 6th I set out, in 
company with Charles Connaway, our presiding 
elder, James Fleming, my colleague, William 
Beauchamp, and others. My colleague and I has- 
tened on to Morgantown, where we met with 
Thomas Barnes and his wife, from the mouth of 
Buffalo Creek, forty miles up the county. This 
was a providential meeting, for T now had a guide 
and good company. By the way we met with a 
rattlesnake, the first I had ever seen. It was in 
a terrible rage. It would raise itself from the 
ground, and pitch more than its length in every 
direction, rattling nearly all the time. It was 
well that I had company, or I should have been 
alarmed and fled from it : but brother Barnes, who 
understood more about such things, got down and 
soon dispatched it. I have seen a great many 
since, and killed a number, but never saw but one 
in such a rage afterward ; this was so much so, 
that it frightened my horse before I took notice 
of it. I threw stones at it till I disabled it, and 
then went near and crushed its head. While I 
am on this subject I would just remark, that I 
have conversed with a number of persons who 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



11 



had been bitten, either by the rattlesnake or cop- 
perhead, and the copperhead is nearly as venom- 
ous as the rattlesnake, and more apt to bite, for it 
bites without giving notice. The rattlesnake rat- 
tles first. Old brother Hacker, at whose house 
we preached, was bitten in the thigh by a rattle- 
snake, that year, when he was seeking his horses. 
I saw him before he was quite well, and asked him 
if he was not alarmed : he answered with a great 
deal of indifference, " O no ; it was a little scranny 
thing." "And what did you do?" « Why," said he, 
" I had a handful of salt in my pocket ; I spit some 
tobacco juice among it, and tied it on with my 
handkerchief, and walked home, when I applied 
something else ;" for they had several Indian 
cures. I knew a young man who was badly bit- 
ten in the foot by a large rattlesnake, when about 
half a mile from home. He was alone, and in the 
woods, and became alarmed at his situation, and 
ran for home with all his might. By the time he 
got home, the poison had circulated through his 
system, so that his tongue was swollen, and he 
fell over the door-sill, on the floor. His brothers 
immediately applied some Indian remedy, and 
saved their brother. But enough of this. 

Brother Barnes and his pious wife conducted 
me to their home, and became as father and mo- 
ther to me, and at their house I felt myself at 
home ; the more so as they had been acquainted 
with my father and family. Brother Barnes was 



12 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



an honest and industrious man, and, withal, a man 
of sound sense, and a good Christian. Sister 
Barnes I esteemed as one of the excellent of the 
earth. This was the first Methodist family that I 
had met with who catechised their children on 
Sunday evenings. Into this worthy family our 
brother Shinn afterward married. Here I met 
my colleague once in two weeks. In this neigh- 
borhood we had a good society, and held quarterly 
meetings at Calder Raymond's, about four miles 
oflP. ' During this summer I saw a man, said to be 
a hundred and thirteen years of age, ride to meet- 
ing to brother Barnes's, on a horse led by his son, 
himself an old man. He was a German, known 
by the name of Daddy Ice through all that coun- 
try. He had been taken prisoner by the Indians, 
and suffered incredible hardships. I visited him 
in his last sickness, and found that his intellect 
had not failed him so much as might have been 
expected. I preached at his funeral ; and it was 
a solemn time while I preached to his children, 
then old gray-headed people, and his grandchil- 
dren and great grandchildren. From this place I 
pushed ahead through Clarksburg, and met my 
first appointment at Joseph Bennett's, about fifteen 
miles above Clarksburg, on the fourth Sunday in 
June. The people came to this meeting from 
four to five miles round ; for we had a good soci- 
ety here, and among them Joseph Chiveront, 
quite a respectable local preacher. They were 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



13 



all backwoods people, and came to meeting in 
backwoods style — all on foot ; a considerable con- 
gregation. I looked round and saw one old man 
who had shoes on his feet. The preacher wore 
Indian moccasins ; every man, woman, and child 
besides, was barefooted. Two old women had on 
what we then called short-gowns, and the rest 
had neither short nor long gowns. This was a 
novel sight to me, for a Sunday congregation. 
Brother Chiveront, in his moccasins, could have 
preached all round me ; but I was a stranger, and, 
withal, the circuit preacher, and must preach, of 
course. I did my best, and soon found if there 
were no shoes and fine dresses in the congrega- 
tion, there were attentive hearers, and feeling 
hearts ; for the melting power of the Lord came 
down upon us, and we felt that the great Head 
of the church was in the midst of us. In meeting 
the class I heard the same humble, loving, reli- 
gious experience, that I had often heard in better- 
dressed societies. If this scene did not make a 
backwoodsman of me outright, it at least recon- 
ciled me to the people, and I felt happy among 
them. 

No doubt a great change has taken place since 
in that settlement ; but that was Methodism, and 
the state of society, as I found it then. Tovi^ard 
the latter part of the summer the Indians paid 
this settlement an unfriendly visit, and made an 
attempt on a brother Smith's family. It was 



14 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Sunday. The good man had just returned from 
a meeting in the evening, when he found some 
pigs in his garden, and told his children to drive 
them out. They took the dog; but instead of 
going after the pigs, he ran to some high weeds 
near the garden, where the Indians lay concealed, 
and began to bark fiercely at them. The Indians, 
finding themselves discovered, rose, and ran after 
the children. The children ran toward the house, 
and cried, " Indians ! Indians !" The father heard 
the cry, and met them at the corner of his cabin, 
near the door, and got them all in, and the door 
shut and barred, before the Indians came up. Had 
it not been for his faithful dog, the children could 
hardly have escaped, for the dog was still very 
fierce on them. They took shelter behind his 
corn-house, shot the poor dog, and then ran off. 
After killing two of the poor man's cattle, and 
taking some of the meat, they encamped that 
night in the hills not far from there. I have been 
at this house : it was within half a mile of father 
Bennett's. Brother Chiveront heard the guns, 
shouldered his rifle and ran, and was very near 
meeting the Indians. He went to the house, and 
found the family all safe, and took them to his own 
cabin, where there were two or three other cabins 
close together. The whole neighborhood was 
soon alarmed. All came to father Bennett's for 
safety, and there stayed till danger was thought 
to be over, Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



16 



LETTER 11. 

Dear Brother, — When we left Bennett's 
settlement, we went about twenty-five or thirty 
miles still higher up the Monongahela, and preach- 
ed at the house of a brother Stortze. Within a 
short distance of this house, the same clan of In- 
dians that had made an attempt on brother Smith's 
children took a young woman prisoner, as she was 
going to the spring one evening, and afterward 
murdered and scalped her. Some weeks after 
this, while my colleague was preaching in this 
place, a messenger came and injudiciously an- 
nounced that her remains were found, and threw 
the whole congregation into consternation. Here 
I saw the men coming to meeting with their rifles 
on their shoulders, guarding their families, then 
setting their guns in a corner of the house till 
after meeting, and returning in the same order. 
In this settlement I met with a young man who 
had escaped from the Indians a few months be- 
fore. He had been a prisoner for some time. He 
was young, active, and a first-rate hunter. He 
traveled eighteen days, or rather nights, through 
the wilderness, for he would lie concealed all day, 
and travel by night. One night he came near an 
Indian camp, but was not discovered. The moon 
and stars were his guide when clear ; when cloudy, 



16 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



he traveled by feeling the moss on the trees, as 
the moss grows on the north side : on the south 
the bark is rough and hard. Poor Cox's suffer- 
ings were great, and his narrative entertaining to 
me. He got near home in the evening, when he 
shouted ; his brother heard him, and knew his 
voice, and ran to meet him, and conducted him tG 
his father and mother. The joy I will not attempt 
to describe. His parents were both members of 
society. They had given up their son for dead. 
They knew that he was a good woodsman, and had 
little reason to hope that the Indians would spare 
his life. This, however, he kept concealed from 
them, by feigning himself ignorant of the use of 
the gun, or the art of hunting. They taught him 
(as they thought) how to shoot and hunt ; they 
then intrusted him with a gun, which he took care 
to bring with him. 0 what a poor chance these 
people had to be religious ! and yet I found some 
very pious people among them. They could give 
as clear and Scriptural an account of conviction for 
sin and conversion as any people. In conversa- 
tion with some of these Christian hunters, I was 
told when they were under conviction they could 
take no game — hunt all day and take nothing. 
The game was always on the flight before they 
saw or heard it. The mind was absent, and the 
eye and ear would not answer the purpose. 

From Stortze's we went to Edward West's, 
where we had a society, and preached regularly. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



17 



This man's first wife was a daughter of John 
Hacker, Esq. One day while he was from home 
the Indians came and killed his wife, and scalped 
her sister Margaret, then a little girl, and left her 
for dead. Some time after they were gone she 
came to, and crept into the lap of a tree, where 
she was found. Margaret was a woman when I 
saw her, and a member of the society. One day 
while I was at her father's she showed me her 
head. The skin on the crown of the head was 
all taken olf, except a little about the forehead ; 
and a thin white skin had grown over the place, 
but no hair. She appeared to enjoy pretty good 
health. One night I lodged at West's. Toward 
evening we all went into the house, and barred 
the door. While at family prayer a great power 
of darkness fell upon my spirits. I felt as bad for 
a moment as if the Indians were at the door break- 
ing in. Naturally I never was fearful, but rather 
the reverse ; but on a few occasions my fears were 
strongly excited. I preached one day at an old 
station, as it was called ; the house was inclosed 
by strong and high pieces of timber set deep into 
the ground, and close together. They had built a 
new house outside of the inclosure ; the doors and 
windows were cut out, and the lower floor laid 
with loose plank. In this new house they had a 
bed. After family prayer, I was conducted to 
that bed to sleep. After committing myself to 

God I lay down, but before I got to sleep the dogs 
2 



18 



BECOLLECTIONS OF 



raved round the house at a terrible rate, (and 
there were many of them.) I do not know that I 
was in danger ; but the Indians having but a little 
while before been through the country, and done 
mischief, and this being a frontier house, I did 
not feel myself secure in my exposed situation. 
My imagination was set in operation, and I felt 
uncomfortable, till balmy sleep came to my relief, 
and drove all my needless fears away. 

From West's we went to John Hacker's, on 
Hacker's Creek. I believe this man could read, 
but not write ; and yet he was a magistrate and a 
patriarch in this settlement, and gave name to the 
creek, having lived here more than twenty years, 
and raised a large family, and never lost but one 
by the Indians, and one scalped and left for dead ; 
and every year when the Indians were trouble- 
some they were in danger. He was a man of 
good common sense, and, I think, an honest man 
and a good Christian, and among the first that 
took in the Methodist preachers. His house had 
long been a preaching house, and the preachers' 
home, and also a place of refuge in time of danger. 
The same gang of Indians that had done the mis- 
chief lower down the river came to this settle- 
ment, and, within half a mile of Hacker's house, 
took four children prisoners, all boys, and, it was 
reported, killed them when they got them in the 
woods. Brother Sansome, one of the delegates 
to the General Conference, told me, last spring, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 19 

that one of the boys had returned to his friends 
after many years. When this took place I was 
in the lower part of the circuit, but came to Hack- 
er's a few weeks afterward. I arrived the even- 
ing before preaching, and found all the women and 
children in the neighborhood there, and the poor 
mother who had lost her children among the rest. 
I tried to comfort the poor woman, but she was 
inconsolable, fearing that her children were dead, 
and neither of them happy. She was a decided 
Calvinist. They were all glad to see me, but I 
was rather sorry, and somewhat alarmed, to find 
them alone, for there was not a man nor even a 
gun about the place. The men were all in the 
woods, some hunting, others digging ginseng and 
snakeroot, and did not come home that night ; so I 
had to guard and comfort the poor women and 
children— the house was crowded. Toward sun- 
set we all went into the house, and barred the 
doors as well as we could. The next day the 
men came home before preaching. This was 
truly a solemn meeting to me, as well as to many 
others. In this place we had a pretty large soci- 
ety, and some very pious people. It is true they 
had but few books, but they had the Bible, and 
they read it ; and some had a few other books the 
preachers had supplied them with. 

They lived, in the true sense of the word, in 
backwoods style. Their sugar they made out of 
the water from the sugar maple. Their tea they 



20 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



got out of the woods, or from their gardens. For 
coffee they also had a substitute, namely, rye or 
chestnuts. Money they had but little. They 
traded at Winchester, and other places, with gin- 
seng, snakeroot, and skins, for salt, rifles, powder, 
lead, &c. All their produce was carried to mar- 
ket on pack horses. Their wearing apparel and 
bedding were mostly their own manufacture. Re- 
ligion certainly did exert a happy influence on the 
morals of these uncultivated people, and I was 
often delighted with their artless simplicity. In 
their way, they appeared to be as happy and con- 
tented as falls to the lot of most people. Taking 
all things into consideration, our congregations 
were good ; for people made going to meeting a 
business, and trifles did not stop them. In the 
lower part of the circuit the people were more re- 
fined in their manners, and also lived more com- 
fortably. On our return from the upper part of 
the circuit we preached at Ellsworth's. I think 
that the old brother's name was Moses. At any 
rate he was the Moses and patriarch of the neigh- 
borhood. This worthy family came from Green- 
brier, where they embraced religion, and brought 
it with them as their best treasure. 

In this family, and I think while living in their 
house, Lasley Mathews and Joseph Chiveront 
both got converted, and began to preach. One 
was a Frenchman, and fought, I think, under 
Lafayette, at Yorktown ; the other was an Irish- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



21 



man — both Roman Catholics. By this family 
father Mathews' two daughters were raised from 
infants ; neither of them grown up, but both in so- 
ciety, when I was there, the youngest of them the 
very picture of her father, and also had some of 
his actions. Many of the old Methodists yet re- 
membered the old saint, who uniformly rose about 
midnight to pray. I know this to be a fact, hav- 
ing slept in the same room and bed with him for 
nearly a week. 

During this summer my mind was deeply ex- 
ercised. A sense of the want of grace and gifts 
for the important work of the ministry rested with 
such weight upon my mind that I was truly op- 
pressed. To brave dangers, encounter difficulties, 
and endure hardships, were mere trifles ; but to 
preach without strong faith, burning zeal, and 
other necessary qualifications, seemed worse than 
death to me. In this perplexed state of mind I 
came to father Ellsworth's, the evening before my 
appointment. In the morning I retired to the 
woods, to read, meditate, weep, and pray before 
the Lord. I mourned my sad condition ; and 
could not see how it could be that the Lord would 
employ such a poor, helpless, ignorant creature, as 
I saw myself to be, in so great a work. I was 
afraid I had mistaken my call, and was strongly 
inclined to go home. While upon my knees, it 
was suggested, Rise, and go to the house, and 
preach from such a text ; and if you cannot preach, 



22 



recollectio:j^s of 



go home. I thought it was from the Lord, and 
went. I sung, prayed, and read out the text; but 
never was more in the dark. Indeed, I was so 
embarrassed that I could say but little ; and still 
less to the purpose. I felt as if my doom was now 
fixed, and I might go home. I thought, however, 
that I would meet the class before I started. I 
was led to tell some of my exercises to these sim- 
ple-hearted people, and the conclusion to which I 
had come ; for hitherto none knew my sorrows. So 
soon as I began, the whole society burst into tears, 
and began to pray for me. In a moment the dark 
cloud broke, and a stream of love, yea, heaven it- 
self, seemed to be poured into my soul ; the enemy 
was bruised under my feet, my head was lifted up, 
and my heart was cheered. I felt now, ignorant 
as I was, willing to go to the ends of the earth, to 
tell the wonders of redeeming love. The scene is 
this moment fresh before my mind ; and methinks 
X yet hear father Ellsworth abusing the devil for 
attempting to drive their preacher away from them. 
It is not likely that our better-informed young men 
have to pass through such exercises. May God 
bless them, and increase their number abundantly ! 
Perhaps for me it was necessary, and ultimately 
worked for good. But if these poor people should 
have waited till the church sent them educated 
ministers, such "as the spirit of the age" calls for 
— " sprightly and talented young men," such as 
our brother Summers wants in Texas, "and none 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



28 



other" — many of them must have perished for 
lack of such knowledge as even we had to com- 
municate to them. Our first quarterly meet- 
ing was held at Martin's Chapel, below Morgan- 
town, August the 17th. We had a very com- 
fortable meeting. My own soul was very much 
refreshed and encouraged. My part of the quar- 
terage was nine shillings, Pennsylvania money, 
and a little more I got afterward. 

Henry Smith, 



LETTER III. 

Dear Brother, — Although we were not dis- 
turbed by the Indians in the lower part of the cir- 
cuit, yet we had our troubles; for the insurrection 
about the excise laws raged, particularly from 
Uniontown to Pittsburg, and although there were 
very few disaffected about Morgantown, yet the 
Liberty Boys came up from below, to set up a 
liberty pole there, but the citizens drove them off. 
I believe there was no blood shed : at any rate no 
lives lost. The excitement had an unfriendly in- 
fluence on society. That summer the army came 
over, dispersed the Whisky Boys, and we had 
peace. 

A few years before this, Morgantown was alarm- 
ed by a report that Indian signs were seen in the 
neighborhood. A small company were sent out 



24 



KECOLLECTIONS OF 



as spies, to ascertain the certainty of it: among 
the rest an Irishman. Happily they found the 
report groundless, and returned to town. But by 
the way some wished to have a little fun with the 
Irishman ; hence they divided, under pretence of 
making further observations. One party ran 
ahead, and concealed themselves ; and when the 
Irishman's party came up, they shot off their guns, 
and every man fell but the Irishman. He took 
to his heels, and ran for his life about five miles, 
to Morgantown. His report excited a dreadful 
alarm through the town. Brother George Can- 
non, one of the preachers, happened to be there. 
He ran to the stable, got his horse, and pushed 
off in all haste for Uniontown ; but had not pro- 
ceeded far before he found out that he had left 
his saddle-bags. He returned to get them ; but 
when he got close to town the men came in, for 
they pursued their Irish friend as fast as they 
could, and a few guns were fired, and the people 
were soon relieved. Poor Cannon heard the guns, 
and thought the Indians were actually in town ; 
and wheeled about, and made the best of his way 
to Uniontown. All this was sport for backswoods 
boys ; but the poor Irishman and the Methodist 
preacher did not enjoy it at all. 

This year Gen. Wayne defeated the Indians. 
A treaty was made, and peace ensued. I was in 
Morgantown, on Christmas eve, when I saw the 
first Indians ; but they were prisoners. Captain 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



25 



Morgan collected a small company of daring spirits 
like himself, and went out on an Indian hunt. He 
crossed the Ohio River, and came across an Indian 
camp, where there were two Indians, three squaws, 
and two children. They shot the men, and brought 
in the women and children prisoners. I saw them 
when they came, and went to the house the next 
day to see them. My heart yearned over them, 
when I looked upon an old mother and two daugh- 
ters, and two interesting grandchildren, a boy and 
girl. The old woman appeared to be cheerful 
and talkative. One of the company spoke Indian 
quite fluently, having been with the Indians. She 
said she had been through all that country when 
quite a wilderness. The young women were sad 
and reserved. They all appeared to be uneasy 
and somewhat alarmed when strangers came in. 
After the ireaty they were returned or exchanged. 

On Christmas morning we had a meeting at five 
o'clock, in a private house, and we had a full house. 
The novelty of the thing brought out some of the 
most respectable people of the town, and we had 
a very solemn and interesting meeting. "We 
preached in the court-house at eleven o'clock; for 
we had no meeting-house, neither was there any 
place of worship in the town. We had but one 
half-finished log meeting-house in the whole cir- 
cuit. We labored hard, and suffered not a little, 
and did not get the half of sixty-four dollars for 
support. We traveled through all weathers and 



26 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



dangers, over bad roads and slippery hills, and 
crossed deep waters, having the Monongahela to 
cross seven times every round, and few ferries. 
Our fare was plain enough. Sometimes we had 
venison and bear-meat in abundance, and always 
served up in their best style. It is true my delicate 
appetite sometimes revolted and boggled, till I 
suffered in the flesh : I then concluded to eat such 
things as ivere set before me^ without thinking how 
they were prepared; for other people ate them, and 
enjoyed health, and why might not I? After I 
had conquered my foolish prejudice, I got along 
much better. Our lodgings were often uncom- 
fortable. I was invited to have an appointment 
at a brother's house one night. After the people 
were gone, I found there was but one small bed 
in the house. When bedtime came, the good 
woman took her bed, and spread it crossways be- 
fore a fine log fire, and I was requested to lie 
down on one end ; and it answered very well for 
me, the man and his wife, and two children. We 
slept very comfortably. This, indeed, was very 
comfortable to what I had sometimes. Most of 
my clothes by this time became threadbare, and 
some worn out, and I had no money to buy new 
ones. I had to put up one night with a strange 
family, and I was obliged to keep on my overcoat 
to hide the rents in my clothes. Next day I got 
to brother Barnes's, where I had them somewhat 
repaired. 



J' 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



27 



Our third quarterly meeting was held at C. 
Hajmond's, on February 14, 1795. The pre- 
siding elder and brother Lyell were with us ; and 
although the weather was very cold, the good 
Lord warmed our hearts by shedding abroad his 
love. O it was a blessed time under, preaching 
and in love-feast! Here I got a little money, to 
bear my expenses home to get refitted ; for I was 
almost naked. 

On Monday, the 16th, I started for home, and 
traveled all day, fasting, through severe cold. At 
night I came to Cheat River. It was then so dark 
that I could not see the going-out place on the 
opposite shore. It was about four miles back to 
the last house I had passed, I did not know the 
ford, and could not tell how deep the river was. 
I did not know what to do ; I was chilled all 
through. If I attempted to go back, I was in dan* 
ger of freezing to death ; if I went forward, I was 
in danger of being drowned. I called aloud for 
help, for there was a house some distance off, on 
the opposite shore, but got no answer. I knew 
my faithful mare was as safe in water as she could 
be, and, also, a first-rate swimmer. I had no 
doubt that she would take me safe over if I could 
but find a place to go out ; so, in the name of the 
Lord, I ventured in and went straight across. 
The water only came up to the skirts of my sad^ 
die. Surely the good hand of the Lord was upon 
me. I stopped at the first house, called a tavern. 



28 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



weary, cold, and hungry. But here I could get 
nothmg to eat, for my dinner and supper together, 
but a bit of cold beef, and cold corn bread. They 
said they had nothing. The soldiers who had 
passed through there in the fall from the whisky 
expedition, had eaten up everything. I went to 
bed. There was then a considerable snow on the 
ground, and that night there fell another deep one. 
In the morning it snowed and blew terribly, and I 
had the glades to cross. I rode about eight or ten 
miles through the snow to the glades, and called 
at another tavern for my breakfast. Here I got 
a good breakfast ; and it was needful. I was in 
great danger in the glades, in plunging through 
the snow-banks, &c., and suffered much from cold, 
being so thinly clad. I, however, crossed the back- 
bone of the Alleghany Mountain that day, and in 
a few days safely arrived at home; in tolerable 
health, but shabby enough. I was furnished with 
a new suit of clothes, from head to foot, and then 
returned to my field of labor. The last quarter 
was more pleasant than any other part of the year. 
Some seals were added to our ministry, which 
sweetened all our toils. On this circuit I learned 
some lessons in the school of adversity, which have 
been of great service to me during my itinerancy. 
Although I never was in real danger from the 
Indians, yet I have often rode fifteen or twenty 
miles through the woods where no one lived, the 
people having fled from danger ; and I rode alone, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 29 

for I never had any guard but the angels. The 
tales of wo that were told me in almost every 
place where there was danger ; the places pointed 
out where murder had been committed ; sleeping 
in houses where the people who were inured to 
these things were afraid to go out of doors after 
sunset ; I say, riding alone, under these circum- 
stances, was far from being agreeable. I was, 
however, often in real danger in crossing rivers, 
swimming creeks, &c. I found the people re- 
markably kind and sociable. Many pleasant hours 
we spent together by the side of our large log fires 
in our log cabins, conversing on various subjects ; 
but religion was generally our delightful theme. 
Our hearts were sometimes made to burn within 
us while we talked of Jesus and his love. It i,- 
true, some of us smoked the pipe with them, but 
we really thought there was no harm in that, for 
we had no anti-tobacco societies among us then ; 
and yet some of us rose at four o'clock in the morn- 
ing to pray and read our Bibles. If we could get 
a lamp or candle, we preferred it ; if not, we read 
by fire-light. Many times I have begged to have 
a pallet before the fire, that I might not oversleep 
myself. We were, also, regular in our hours of 
retirement for prayer. When we had a closet, we 
went to it ; if not, we went to the woods, in sum- 
mer, but, when there was danger, always at an 
early hour. In winter, or when it rained, we 
sought a place in a fodder-house, or somewhere 



30 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



else where we could be secreted. More than once 
I have been startled by dogs bouncing out when I 
entered into the fodder-house, or came upon me 
when at my devotions, and assailed me as an in- 
truder. I was so conscientious in this thing, that 
if I did not enjoy the privilege of private prayer, 
particularly in the evening, I felt uncomfortable 
in mind. And we were not satisfied with having 
said our prayers ; our doctrine was, Pray till you 
get your soul made happy. As to preaching to 
a congregation without having previously been 
upon our knees, and asked divine assistance, and 
God's blessing upon the word, (when opportunity 
offered,) we would have been afraid of being con- 
founded before them. "We had few books. I had 
Wesley's Notes and Fletcher's Appeal, and, I be- 
lieve, Wesley's Sermons, but no commentary on 
the Bible, on the circuit. The first time I saw 
Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, I would have 
purchased it at any price, if I had been able to 
procure it. As to temperance, I was taught by 
the example and precept of our preachers, from 
the time I became a member of the church, namely, 
P. Bruce, T. Fleming, L. Chasteen, J. Wells, V. 
Cook, and others, that our rules required total 
abstinence from all distilled liquors, unless taken 
as a medicine, in the strict sense of the word. 
This was then the construction of the rule. I do 
not know that I heard anything about " extreme 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



81 



necessity.'' I enforced the rule everywhere^ by 
precept and practice. 

I believe James Fleming and myself were the 
last who traveled Clarksburg circuit during the 
Indian war. I am far from even thinking, much 
less saying, that our preachers are now too well 
provided for, or our missionaries too well sup- 
ported. JSTo ; in my humble way, I plead their 
cause, and contribute, to the utmost of my means, 
to their support. But permit me to say, that not- 
withstanding all the missionary zeal that is abroad 
in the church, and though many say, " Here am I; 
send me," who could be prevailed on to be .mis- 
sionaries on the terms that James Fleming, H. S., 
and many others were, in by-gone days ? that is, 
suffer much, labor hard, and find themselves. It\ 
will readily be admitted that, taking them as a 
body, the preachers in those days were inferior to 
the present race of preachers in literary attain- 
ments ; but in disinterestedness, in enterprise, in 
zeal, in self-denial, in holy living, and success, 
they were inferior to no set of men that any church 
ever produced. I knew them well. When I call 
to mind the prejudice and opposition they had to 
contend with, I am astonished at their success, 
and can attribute it to nothing but the excellency 
of the power that attended their ministrations. 
To speak in backwoods style, they appeared to be 
surrounded by a kind of holy " knock-'em-down " 



32 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



power, that was often irresistible. Some came to 
meeting cursing the preacher, and went home 
weeping and praying. I will give one case among 
many. 

A neighbor woman came to my father's to hear 
preaching. Her heart was touched, and she came 
again ; got converted, and joined society. Her 
husband, though a good-natured man, and a kind 
husband, got into a dreadful rage, and became 
almost frantic. He determined to come next 
preaching day, and flog the preacher for convert- 
ing his wife. He came, and so did the preacher, 
Valentine Cook. When the poor sinner saw the 
preacher, he said to himself, " He looks stout, but 
I can manage him. However, Til hear him preach 
first." But the preacher managed him so well in 
his sermon, that he was conquered, and came into 
class meeting, where he was fully broken up, and, 
shortly after this, joined with his wife, and became 
a steady member. After some years he moved to 
Kentucky, where I found him still a steady mem- 
ber. He then made another move, about forty 
miles from his class, or preaching ; but it made 
little difference, for Jacob Abrill was pretty regu- 
lar at preaching once in two weeks. The preachers 
were then nearly all single men. 

In 1797 I got acquainted with the first travel- 
ing preacher who led about a wife. I was then 
in Kentucky. Each of them had a horse and 
saddle, and a large pair of saddlebags; and in 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



33 



this way they moved their all from circuit to cir- 
cuit. Twice, to my knowledge, she traveled 
through the wilderness with her husband. I be- 
lieve those who became acquainted with her were 
always willing to board her for her company, and 
such little services as she was ever willing to ren- 
der in the family. I traveled on the same circuit 
with them, and I always found this good sister 
content with her lot in life. Cheerful and happy, 
she tried to make herself agreeable and useful 
everywhere. Henry Smith. 



LETTEK IV. 

Dear Brother, — This will conclude my nar- 
rative for the present. Our last quarterly meet- 
ing for Clarksburg circuit was held in Morgan- 
town, May 2d and 3d, 1795. We preached in 
the court-house — ^but had quite an interesting 
meeting, and good was done. The time had now 
arrived when I must leave this circuit and go to 
Redstone. My heart was much united to the 
people, and I left them with reluctance. Some 
of them I afterward met in Ohio, and many of 
them I hope to meet in heaven. I set out for my 
circuit; but, being requested by the presiding 
elder, I took one round on Pittsburg circuit, 
where I had some meetings, attended with great 
3 



RECOLLECTIONS OP 



power. Good was done, and I was much encou- 
raged to go forward. 

On the 29th I got orders to return to Redstone. 
But shortly after I got on the circuit my horse 
died. This was a cross to me, indeed, for I had 
no means of buying another. The means were, 
however, soon furnished by my kuid friends on 
the circuit. I believe I labored among them with 
some acceptance and success. I became acquaint- 
ed with some of the first-fruits of Methodism in 
that country, and often heard them speak with 
gratitude and delight of the first preachers among 
them — particularly Thomas Ware and Valentine 
Cook. They would relate their adventures and 
success with great animation. I often heard them 
speak of the famous controversy between Mr. Cook 
and Messrs. Porter and Jameson. A copy of the 
first letter from Mr. Porter to Mr. Cook is in my 
possession. It is really a curious production, and 
shows plainly in what sovereign contempt Method- 
ist preachers were held by some of the clergy in 
those days. I may have it published in the 
Western Christian Advocate, where brother Ban- 
ning has given some account of the controversy, 
and its happy results. Public debate on religious 
subjects is not always useful, but this was evidently 
of God ; for thereby many eyes were opened, and 
a favorable turn given to Methodism in that coun- 
try. The victory was complete, and the pride of 
man was mortified, if not humbled ; and it made 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



35 



them a little more careful how they assailed 
Methodist preachers ; for this thing was not done 
in a corner. 

Thomas Hajmond, son of brother Haymond, of 
Clarksburg circuit, was appointed in charge to 
Redstone circuit ; an amiable, sweet-spirited, holy 
man of God, and a powerful preacher ; a man of 
great simplicity, and much beloved by the people. 
But he came on in poor health, and got but once 
round the circuit before he was obliged to retire 
from the work. To lose such a colleague was 
no ordinary loss to me, for I was left alone, and 
in charge of a large circuit. I was young and 
inexperienced, and had disagreeable business to 
settle in some of the societies. But the Lord 
was with me, and sustained my weakness ; and 
upon the whole we had prosperity. Our first 
quarterly meeting was held at brother Roberts' 
in Leganeer Valley, some time in July, and we 
had a glorious time. Brother Hitt preached on 
Saturday, and some of the brethren exhorted. 
We had preaching again at night. It fell to my 
lot to exhort ; and the mighty power of God came 
doAvn, and we had a great shout, and it was heard 
afar off. Sunday morning we had a precious 
love-feast. Brother Hitt preached us one of his 
best sermons, and good was done. This brother 
Roberts was the father of our worthy Bishop 
Roberts. In this pious family I had a pleasant 
time. Robert R. Roberts was then but a boy, 



36 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



and I believe not converted — but moral, modest, 
and serious ; quite observant of passing events, 
and anxious to gain information. Little did I 
then think that he ever would be my bishop, and 
such a bishop as he has proved himself to be. 
Thank the Lord, when he makes preachers and 
bishops they will be well made. But if ever the 
church takes this great work out of his hands, 
and, either by theological seminaries or education 
societies, prepares materials for the Lord, and then 
says, " Surely the Lord's anointed is before him," 
the work will be marred. 

The session of the Baltimore Conference being 
changed from spring to fall, we had our last quarter- 
ly meeting some time early in October. Thence 
I went, in company with the preachers, toward 
Baltimore. I went by home, to see my father and 
friends, and did not get to Baltimore till the 20th. 
Conference was in session when I got there. 
This was my first visit to Baltimore, and I had 
my lodgings with William Woods. His first wife 
was then living, and she was a devoted child of 
God. We had preaching every morning at 
Light-street, at five o'clock. She regularly went 
to meeting with me at that hour. Our conference 
was harmonious. At this conference I was admit- 
ted into full connection, and elected to deacon's or- 
ders, though I had traveled but eighteen months. 
This looked a little like suddenly laying hands 
upon me ; and was so unexpected by me, that 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



87 



had I not been going as a missionary I would not 
have submitted. Bishop Asbury called for volun- 
teers to go to Kentucky, and fixed his eye upon 
me as one. I said, "Here am I, send me." It 
certainly was then a greater undertaking to go 
to Kentucky than it is now to go to Texas. 
On the 25th I was ordained in a private room, 
before conference opened; and in a few hours 
after my ordination John Watson and myself 
were on horseback, on our way to Kentucky, al- 
most before any one knew we were going. Some 
of our friends made us a few presents, but no fuss 
was made over us, or by us, as though we were 
going out of the world. We pushed across the 
Alleghany Mountain to Yohegany Eiver, in 
hopes of getting into a family boat down the Ohio, 
for there was then, no road through the wilder- 
ness. But the water was low, and we had to 
wait some weeks before we could get a boat ; at 
last we met with Mr. B. Head's family, with 
whom brother Watson had been acquainted in 
Pennsylvania. They agreed to take us in, but 
they were in partnership with another family in 
the boat, and it was not ready ; so we had still to 
wait. Here were two families and eleven horses 
(ours made thirteen) in one boat. Two or three 
of our family had the measles on board. We 
were much crowded ; but after floating, and some- 
times rowing, night and day, through rain, 
wind, and smoke, for nine days and nights, we 



38 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



safely landed at Brooke's Landing, Mason county, 
Kentucky, December 2, 1795. We were once in 
great danger in a storm, and were obliged to put 
to shore ; and if we bad not had a young man on 
board who understood managing the boat we must 
have been lost. We were very uncomfortably 
situated — with two families, and some of them 
sick, and thirteen restless horses. 

But we were going on the Lord's business, and 
our minds were stayed on him, and kept in peace. 
We had family prayer when circumstances would 
admit of it. The wind blew from every point, 
and it was cold, and we were obliged to have fire in 
a large kettle. The smoke annoyed us very much, 
but we were mercifully preserved. But how 
much better we were off than poor Tucker and 
Carter, two Methodist preachers, who were killed 
by the Lidians in going down the river, though at 
different times. Carter fought as long as he was 
able ; and, after he received a mortal wound, still 
exhorted his companions not to give up the boat, 
though the Lidians were alongside with their 
canoes. It is said that his presence of mind and 
courage saved the boat, for the Indians were 
beaten off; but the poor fellow died before they 
got to Limestone, (now Maysville,) where his 
remains rest in hope of a glorious resurrection. 

K you hear from me again it will be from the 
west. Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



LETTER y. 

Dear Brother, — Others have advised and 
urged me to write, bat I could hardly believe they 
were in earnest ; but you have fairly brought me 
out. I am afraid my poor communications will 
increase your labor ; but I beg you not to suffer 
anything to come before the public that will dis- 
credit your valuable paper. I write to you as an 
old fast friend. When I made entries in my 
diary, consisting mostly of dates, names of persons 
and places, (and even in this I had not been very 
particular,) I had not the most distant idea that 
any of it would ever come before the public. The 
most that I have written relates to my religious 
experience ; my sorrows and joys, my hopes and 
fears, are often noticed. Lean as my notes are, 
they are of great service to me ; for looking 
over them brings to my recollection many 
things that were forgotten ; and indeed I find that 
I can bring back events that took place forty-five 
or fifty years ago with more ease than I can what 
passed forty days ago. My few notes serve like a 
string to my memory ; I pull, and it comes as 
fresh as if it had recently taken place. I can 
assure you that I do not wish or intend to say 
anything that might in the smallest degree de- 
preciate the improvements made in our economy, 
for they are great. I have been awfully afraid 



40 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



of becoming a dissatisfied, sour-spirited old man^ 
or one who is disposed to find fault, and cannot 
rejoice in the good that is done, because it is not 
done exactly as it used to be. It is the duty of 
the church to carry out first principles ; but in 
so doing let her never lose sight of them, and 
she is safe. I may, perhaps, sometimes glance at 
some things where I may think there is a falling 
off, but I will do it in love and good humor. 
I owe everything to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and I never loved her more than I do 
now. 

After brother Watson and myself had landed in 
Kentucky we hastened on to brother Derrett's, a 
local preacher from Virginia, where we made a 
short stay, and then pushed on to Lexington, and 
inquired after Francis Poythress, the presiding 
elder. I left brother W. and pushed ahead to 
Salt Elver circuit, and met the presiding elder at 
a quarterly meeting, held at Captain Hites', on 
Beargrass, about five or six miles from the Falls 
of Ohio. We had a precious meeting : O, it was 
a heaven to my soul ! At this meeting I first 
saw and heard my beloved brother, Thomas Wil- 
kerson, and was appointed to travel with him till 
spring. I was delighted with my colleague, and 
we had some precious meetings. It is true our 
rides were long, the roads bad, the waters often 
high, and our labors hard ; but no matter, we 
were both young, and, the best of all, the Lord 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



41 



was with us, and we went on cheerfully. Our 
last quarterly meeting was held at Samuel Eobe- 
son's, the 2d and 3d of April, 1796. It was a 
season of refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord. On Monday, the fourth, I started, in com- 
pany with my colleague, to meet the preachers 
going to conference : we met at Bethel school. I 
do not intend to give a history of the rise and final 
fall of this institution. I will merely say, that it 
was gotten up under the superintendence of F. 
Poythress, and was intended for a college; but 
some of its patrons dying, and others failing in 
their support, it fell through, and our dear old 
father Poythress with it: for such were his 
anxiety and responsibility, and it bore with such 
weight upon his mind, that he sunk, and the good 
old man entirely lost his reason. The getting up 
an institution of the kind was perhaps premature ; 
it certainly was badly located, (as it turned out,) 
and perhaps not well managed ; but I never had 
any doubt of the good and honest intention of the 
principal agent. The first time I was there a 
school was taught in it by John Metcalf, a local 
preacher ; afterward Valentine Cook took charge 
of the school. In this neighborhood (Jessamine 
county, near Kentucky River) we had a meeting 
house and a respectable society. Bethel was the 
place of rendezvous, where the preachers met 
when conference was held on the Holstein district, 
and thence they went in a company through the wil- 



42 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



demess. This year the conference was on Hol- 
stein ; and, as I had no business there, I traveled 
on Danville circuit till the preacher returned. I 
became very much attached to the people, and had 
a strong desire to stay, for I thought I had encou- 
raging prospects of a revival of religion ; but 
Bishop Asbury appointed me to Limestone circuit. 
We then had six circuits in Kentucky, and four 
out of the six were three weeks' circuits. So I 
was alone again. I stayed only six months, (for 
the preachers were often changed in those days,) 
but I had a gracious revival. Our first quarterly 
meeting was held at brother Derrett's, and began 
on Friday the 17th of June. The local preachers 
were asked, one by one, in their examination, how 
they stood affected toward our church government.* 
Some were disaffected, and of course spoke their 
sentiments; and disaffected men hardly ever 
speak in a very sweet spirit of our church 
government. This created some distress among 
us. But on Saturday, while father Poythress 
was preaching, the cloud broke, and the reviving 
showers of grace came down like showers of rain 
upon the mown grass ; and we sat as beneath the 
droppings of the Lord's sanctuary. But at night, 
while Caleb Jarvis Taylor, our Kentucky poet, 

^ This was shortly after O'Kelly's secession. Some of 
hirpreachers were then in Kentucky, striving hard to dis- 
afFect the local brethren, and had in several instances suc- 
ceeded. , 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



43 



was preaching, we had still a greater display of 
divine power — some cried for mercy, and others 
shouted for joy. This gave offense to some of the 
sons of Belial. On Sunday we were also highly 
favored of the Lord. In this neighborhood I be- 
came acquainted with brother John Sargent, from 
Maryland, one of the old stamp of Methodists — 
a good stock — for he was the father of the late 
Dr. Sargent. It gratifies me to name my old 
friends. I also became intimate with James 
O'Cull. I believe he began his ministry in Ken- 
tucky, and entered the itinerant connection at an 
early day ; but by excessive labor, and long and 
loud preaching, soon broke down, and was laid up 
as a broken reed. He married a pious sister, and 
undertook to provide for a family ; and, as I began 
to feel the effects of long and loud preaching, 
(very often preaching and class would take up 
four hours — it is true the people did not leave me, 
or grow weary, for we had a work of God among 
us,) it was good for me to converse with such a 
friend. There was no provision made for the 
superannuated preachers ; and to marry and locate 
meant nearly the same thing. Here I saw a man 
who had once a fine constitution, strong lungs, and 
a charming voice, (he once said to me my voice 
was too good,) and, for his opportunity, an able 
preacher, and a very acceptable and successful 
laborer in the Lord's vineyard ; but now his voice 
was gone, his lungs shattered, and his whole 



44 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



frame debilitated, and hardly ever free from pain, 
and all this was done in a few years. 

I never saw a man more anxious to speak for 
God than my friend O'CuU ; but this was out of 
the question* I, however, on two occasions saw 
him mount the stand, and look round on the con- 
gregation, the tears streaming down his face, and, 
in a half whisper, say a few words ; and although 
half the congregation could not understand what 
he said, yet it ran like fire from heart to heart, 
till all were melted to tears. On one of these oc- 
casions I was deeply affected ; it seemed as if my 
heart would burst. I certainly ought to have 
profited more by beholding such a spectacle, and 
hearing the lectures he sometimes gave me ; for 
he was a charming, sweet-spirited man, and an 
humble Christian. I loved these people very 
much ; but, thank the Lord, I never labored among 
a people that I did not love, and take a deep in- 
terest in their welfare : generally, the last I was 
with I loved the most. Our last quarterly meeting 
was in September ; we had a comfortable time. 
From thence I went to Lexington circuit. Here 
my valuable mare took what they called the foot 
evil; a disease I never saw among horses any- 
where but in Kentucky, and there it was common : 
it began round the edge of the hoof, and would 
take off the hoof if not cured. It is quite a dif- 
ferent thing from the ring-bone. I left her with 
a friend to be cured ; but she caught a worse dis- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



45 



ease from another horse, and I had to give her up 
and get another. Upon the whole we had pros- 
perity, and I had the pleasure of seeing some 
fruit of my labor. My last quarterly meeting was 
held at Jessamine meeting-house, April 22 and 23, 
1797 ; and as our annual conference was held at 
Bethel this year, we had all the Holstein preachers 
at our meeting. Bishop Asbury was not with us, 
in consequence of affliction ; and having the wil- 
derness to go through, he was advised not to 
venture ; but the great Head of the church was 
with us, and it was a time of harmony and love 
among ourselves, and great power in the congre- 
gation. Our business was done in peace ; for 
there was no jealousy among our little band of 
brothers. No scrambling for the best circuits ; 
(we had no stations ;) if we got a bad circuit, (as 
circuits are sometimes called,) we went to it with 
a willing mind, determined, if possible, to make it 
better : if we got a good circuit, we went with a 
cheerful heart, resolved to show ourselves worthy 
of a good place. A good circuit ! what does it 
mean ? does it mean ample provision for a preacher 
and his family, good accommodation, short rides 
over a good road, and little to do ? We had no such 
circuits ; but still some were better than others. 
From this conference I went to Salt River again. 
I was delighted to get among my old friends ; 
for the Lord gave me favor in the eyes of these 
people, and also added seals to my ministry. In 



46 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



this circuit I got acquainted with the widow of 
Colonel Harden. He was a devoted Methodist. 
He w^as sent out, in company with another man, 
with a flag of truce to the Indians ; but the savage 
wretches killed them both. This good sister was 
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ; often shouting 
aloud, and expressing the strongest confidence of 
meeting her beloved husband in heaven. Barna- 
bas M'Henry, one of the early preachers, married 
into this worthy family : he was a man of strong 
mind, and able in argument, and stood upon the 
walls of our Zion, and defended her bulwarks 
when she was assailed by an enemy. Our first 
quarterly meeting was at Samuel Eobeson's, July 
22 and 23. I did my best to bring up the people 
to this meeting ; for our quarterly meetings were 
high times, and the people went a great way to 
them, and we always expected something to be 
done at them out of the common order ; and I felt 
confident that the Lord would pour out his Spirit, 
and revive his work at this meeting. Our beloved 
brother Kobler was with us, and acquitted himself 
as usual, on Saturday : at night, brother M'Henry 
preached a heart-searching sermon on, " Grow in 
grace;" and the power of God was among the 
people. I examined myself, whether I was grow- 
ing in grace, and began to doubt, and became 
alarmed. I was, however, not sorry for the sight 
I had of myself, and grieved on account of the 
small progress that I had made in religion. On 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



47 



Sunday brother Kobler preached on these words : 
" To the unknown God, whom ye ignorantly wor- 
ship/' &c. Among other things he said, that some 
did not only ignorantly worship God, but igno- 
rantly preached him. I feared I was one of them, 
but resolved to be a Christian in earnest. I was 
constantly engaged in self-examination and prayer, 
and attentive to all my duties. I had such a sight 
and sense of the utter depravity of my whole na- 
ture, that I lost confidence in my justification ; 
(this, I now see, ought not to have been the case ;) 
but I went on preaching and praying, sometimes 
speaking to experienced Christians respecting my 
state. The gloom and doubt that hung around 
my mind gradually wore off, and confidence and 
the joy of God's salvation were restored. At this 
time I was much afflicted with dyspepsia, which 
might have contributed much toward bringing on 
that despondency and gloom of mind ; for better 
health and better feelings returned together. 

Henry Smith. 



48 



EECOLLECTIONS OF 



LETTER YL 

Dear Brother, — Before I leave Kentucky, I 
must say something respecting the moral and re- 
ligious state of the people. It is well known that 
no tribe of Indians had exclusive possession of 
Kentucky, or had a residence there. Several 
tribes claimed it, and it was their hunting ground? 
and they were always at war about it : it might 
properly be called the field of blood, or bloody 
ground, as I believe the name imports. It was 
never purchased from the Indians, for none seemed 
to have the right to sell. They were expelled by 
the whites after a severe struggle. This is one 
reason why none of the people called Quakers 
ever settled on any of the rich lands in Kentucky. 
Daniel and Squire Boon, two brothers, were the 
first white settlers there. They located many 
thousand acres of land. Daniel was living there 
when I went out in the fall of 1795 ; but I was 
told that he was poor, and did not possess a foot 
of land in all the state. I have read sketches of 
his adventures, and heard many entertaining tales 
of him ; in many respects he was an extraordinary 
man. The country was settled from west Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, 
and the morals of the people were such as is com- 
mon in all newly settled countries. 

I believe the Baptists were the first religious 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



49 



people that pressed into that country, and the 
Presbyterians were there in early times ; the 
Methodists came in third. I believe James Haw 
and Benjamin Ogden were the first traveling 
Methodist preachers sent to Kentucky, but they 
were preceded by a few local preachers ; for they 
have always had the honor of being pioneers in 
our work. Among them Francis Clark was first, 
at whose house I have preached. A few years 
after this many others went out, among whom was 
Wilson Lee, who went through that country like 
a blazing torch ; the rich as well as the poor fol- 
lowed him, and " much people was added to the 
Lord so that when I went out Methodism had 
spread nearly over the state, though opposed 
everywhere, and by nearly every sort of people. 
Some zealous and useful preachers were soon 
raised up among them, and several entered the 
itinerancy. I believe Benjamin Lakin is the only 
one still living, and on the list of superannuated ; 
he lives in Ohio, and is poor, as well as old and 
afflicted. Methodism was gaining ground by con- 
version, as well as emigration. The Baptists 
were numerous and influential, and vastly pre- 
judiced against the Methodists ; and the Presby- 
terians were not far behind them : though they 
disagreed on the subject and mode of baptism, 
they agreed pretty well in despising and opposing 
the Methodists. 

On the subject of Christian baptism many of 

4 



50 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



our people were uninformed, and they adhered to 
us on account of our doctrines, our peculiar privi- 
leges, and " the excellency of the power" that at- 
tended our ministrations — the only good reason 
why the people should cleave to any church or 
ministry. All the pewed houses, organs, fiddles, 
fine singing, and even a learned ministry, cannot 
keep together a living congregation where the 
power is absent ; the living will go where the liv- 
ing worship. 

The public mind in Kentucky was strongly 
prejudiced in favor of baptism by immersion ; 
some of our preachers had ventured to come out 
on that subject, but very partially. So things 
continued till about 1800, when William M'Ken- 
dree was appointed our presiding elder ; (perhaps 
brother Burke had begun the controversy before 
brother M'Kendree came ;) he (M'Kendree) went 
round the district, and saw the state of things, 
and urged some of the preachers to study the sub- 
ject, and come out boldly. He and brother Burke 
led the way, and so it happened that the preach- 
ers began, about the same time, in every direc- 
tion ; some public debates ensued, and the people 
seemed surprised that anything could be said in 
favor of " baby sprinkling," as they contemptu- 
ously called infant baptism. The discussion con- 
tinued for a long time : our people gained confi- 
dence, and the public became better informed on 
the subject. Before this the Baptist preachers 



AN OLD ITIXERANT. 



51 



profited greatly by our labors, but now we kept 
our converts ; the change was truly great. 

Our difficulties were increased by some of Mr. 
O'Kelly's preachers, who came out full of zeal 
against Methodist episcopacy ; and having access 
to our people, through James Haw and others, 
not a few became disaffected. They then called 
themselves Methodists, or rather Eepublican Me- 
thodists ; and even this had some influence on the 
public mind. But after this they held a conven- 
tion in the state, and assumed the name Christian. 
A few of our local preachers went with them, and 
also some of the members ; and I saw, heard, and 
felt enough to remember that O'Kellyism had 
tainted some of our local preachers and members 
too, who nevertheless did not leave us; and that 
in some places a preference was given to a local 
ministry. " These men,'' it was said, " are with 
us, and we know them ; as for these traveling 
preachers, we know them not, or from whence 
they came." I know that it was not considered a 
reproach to a local preacher to disapprove of our 
church government, and even inveigh against it. 

I traveled round every circuit in Kentucky, 
and, I believe, visited every society, and attended 
many quarterly meetings and camp meetings, but 
have no recollection of ever seeing Benjamin Og- 
den anywhere, about whom there has been so much 
warmth in the Western Christian Advocate. I 
perfectly recollect hearing the old members say 



52 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



that lie had been a mighty man among them. I 
rejoice to think that I shall see him in heaven, 
though I never saw him in Kentucky. 

While the controversy with our Baptist bre- 
thren about the subject and mode of baptism was 
yet going on, the great revival of religion broke 
out in Cumberland through the instrumentality 
of the two M'Gees ; one a Methodist, the other a 
Presbyterian. They were brothers in the flesh 
as well as in the Lord ; both full of faith and the 
Holy Ghost. This work of God soon made its 
way to Kentucky, and the Methodist preachers 
were pretty well prepared to defend their doc- 
trines and usages, and so secure the fruit of their 
labors. When the work began in Kentucky I 
was in Ohio, but one of my preaching places was 
on the banks of the Ohio, nearly opposite to Cabin 
Creek. About four miles up this creek, the work 
broke out in Mr. M'Namar's congregation. I had 
some acquaintance with that gentleman, and heard 
him preach an honest Calvinistic sermon to his 
congregation ; there was no disguise about it. He 
invited me to his house, and I stayed over night 
with him. In the course of conversation that 
evening, he broached a controversy on doctrine ; 
I was unpleasantly situated, having just recovered 
from a severe spell of sickness, and being at his 
own house. As he had, however, taken the labor- 
ing oar, I left it in his hands. I had read Wes- 
ley and Fletcher enough to make myself ac- 



AN OLD ITINERAXT. 



53 



quainted with their best arguments. I satisfied 
myself, however, with asking questions and throw- 
ing difficulties in his way. I soon found him ex- 
ceedingly puzzled, and could plainly see that he 
had studied one side of the controversy only. I 
did not, however, avail myself of all the advan- 
tages I had. This reverend gentleman, by the 
recommendation of Dr. C, one of his brethren in 
the ministry, went to hear our M'Kendree. The 
subject that day was, the extent of the atonement, 
and salvation by faith in Christ. Mr. M'Xamar 
was so charmed with the simple eloquence of the 
preacher, and the force of his arguments, that he 
said in himself, as he went home. This is a doctrine 
that is calculated to do good. It so wrought upon 
his mind that shortly afterward, perhaps the next 
sabbath, he began upon the same heavenly theme 
in his own congregation, and the mighty power 
of God came down upon him and his congrega- 
tion, and many of them fell to the floor under it, 
and the preacher among the rest. I was not pre- 
sent, but was told it by some Methodist friends, 
who were eye-witnesses. To the congregation 
this was a strange work, but not so strange to the 
Methodists ; for, thank the Lord, we kept the fire 
burning in the midst of surrounding darkness and 
opposition. Some of the Methodists began to 
talk to those who were in distress, and also sung 
and prayed; but some of the elders (who were 
still on their feet) said, " If it is the Lord's work, 



64 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



let the Lord do his own but they replied, " The 
Lord works by means/' and persisted : some soon 
found peace, and began to rejoice. As there was 
some crowding among those who were down, one 
said, " Don't tread on Mr. M'Namar." He heard 
it, and cried out, " Yes, let them tread on me, for 
I deserve it. O, if I and my congregation had 
been called to judgment a few weeks ago what 
would have become of us ?" This was the begin- 
ning of the work among the Presbyterians on 
Cabin Creek, in the east part of Kentucky. 
Shortly after this, a similar work broke out in Mr. 
Dunlavey's congregation, on Eagle Creek, Ohio. 
Thank the Lord, this glorious revival soon spread 
nearly over the state, and was quite common in 
Presbyterian as well as Methodist congregations. 
More in my next. Henry Smith. 



LETTER VII. 

Dear Brother, — The famous Cane Ridge 
camp meeting exceeded everything, so that it be- 
came a proverb in our Israel, " Like Cane Ridge." 
This meeting was held in the bounds of the Rev. 
Mr. Stone's congregation, (a Presbyterian minis- 
ter,) and I believe was appointed as a sacramental 
meeting. Many thousands were present; and 
hundreds fell to the earth under the mighty power 
of God. Camp meetings were not got up by a 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



55 



preconcerted plan to promote a revival of religion, 
but were, like most other good things, children of 
providence, and necessarily grew out of circum- 
stances; for people went out far and near to sac- 
ramental or quarterly meetings, with no intention 
of staying on the ground, but intended either to 
return home or lodge somewhere in the neighbor- 
hood where the camp meeting was held; but so 
many were smitten to the ground, and continued 
in a helpless state, apparently insensible to every- 
thing around them, and so continued for hours, 
some for twenty >four hours, that their friends had 
to stay and take care of them. Many came to, 
praising the Lord, while others remained in deep 
distress of mind. They had no provision, or other 
accommodation ; yet some were detained in this 
way till they were suffering, if not in a state of 
starvation. At first the excitement was so great 
that they did not want to eat ; but long fasting 
brought on hunger, and some friendly people in 
the neighborhoods where those meetings were 
held killed sheep and oxen, and sent in provision 
to a suffering multitude. Many said, " The next 
time I go to one of these meetings, I '11 go prepared 
to stay on the ground." Others, who were obliged 
to leave the meetings, soon returned with wagons, 
or carts, &c., to stay on the ground during their 
continuance, for many hundreds were obliged to 
go away. 

At the first camp meeting (as they were soon 



56 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



called) there was little preparation made. A piece 
of ground was selected in some grove, and cleared 
of underbrush; a rude stand was erected, and a 
few seats provided near the stand. At some meet- 
ings they afterward had two or three stands, where 
there was preaching at the same time to vast crowds 
of people : singing and praying going on at the 
same time, in circles at a distance from the stand. 
At first there was strong opposition, and not a little 
disorder, as might be expected ; but so many vio- 
lent opposers and daring sinners were " knocked 
down," as it was commonly called, that dread soon 
fell upon the multitude, and fear took hold of them, 
and they were greatly restrained. Many fell under 
preaching and exhortation ; and some, who were 
not willing to yield when convicted, ran to the 
woods to shake it off; but were pursued by the 
Spirit of God, and constrained to cry aloud for 
mercy ; and there were many cases of this kind. 
The cry was soon heard, and brought a crowd 
around them. The preachers and exhorters, and 
even private members, availed themselves of such 
opportunities of speaking to spectators, as well as 
praying with those who were in distress. It some- 
times so happened that numbers fell around those 
who were first smitten, and the work extended 
over acres of ground, where there was little else 
heard but a loud cry for mercy, or the singing and 
shouting of heaven-born souls, and their friends 
rejoicing with and over them. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



57 



This work was the subject of conversation every- 
where, and in every kind of company. The great- 
est of all wonders was, that the Presbyterians 
should unite at these meetings with the Methodists : 
" a people," as one said to me one day, not know- 
ing who I was, " so despised and persecuted." But 
Methodist preachers and exhorters, and all our 
praying men and women, were in great demand 
in that revival. Long, formal prayers were never 
called for ; but those who conld sing and pray as 
though they would bring Heaven's blessings down 
by strong faith and humble confidence, were called 
upon as long as they could whisper a prayer. The 
people had great confidence in the prayers of God's 
servants and people ; and we had many signal 
answers to prayer. O how affecting it was to hear 
people beg, with tears in their eyes, O come, do 
come, and pray for my father, or mother, or son, 
or daughter, &c. We had no altar, and as yet 
called up no mourners. The whole ground was 
an altar; and our hymn-book and tunes gained 
the ascendency over all others, and were sought 
after by some as though they had inspiration at- 
tached to them. 

I will here relate several incidents. A son of our 
good old brother Aquilla Standeford, an old local 
preacher from Baltimore co., Md., was a child of 
many prayers ; but, alas ! he was a great sinner, as 
well as a stout man. He stood and heard a ser- 
mon at one of these meetings. As the preacher 



68 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



became animated with his subject, there began to 
be some excitement in the congregation ; but this 
hardened sinner said to one of his companions, 
"Now you'll soon see a d^ — 1 of a fuss." The 
words had scarcely escaped his lips when he drop- 
ped down, and began to cry aloud for mercy. He 
made as much ^' fuss " as any one on the ground, 
and soon found peace. I visited this man after- 
ward, when in deep affliction, and found him still 
" rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." 

This revival was attended with many extraor- 
dinary circumstances ; for many fell under its 
divine influence not only at meetings, but on their 
way home, and in their houses and fields; but, 
strange to tell, the work was still opposed by many. 
A seceding minister, whom I knew, took one of his 
friends to task for going to a camp meeting. His 
friend said, " Mr. R., would not you go to one of 
them ?" He replied, " No : I would be afraid the 
Lord would forsake me, and the devil would knock 
me down." It is remarkable, that in this gracious 
revival the seceders and the main body of Bap- 
tists stood aloof. 

A part of the Presbyterian ministers who en- 
tered into the spirit of this great work, renounced 
their creed, and cried down all creeds, forms, and 
confessions of faith, and were for throwing them 
all " to the moles and bats ;" and of course our 
form of doctrine and discipline must go to, and our 
peculiar privileges, such as class meetings and love- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



59 



feasts, were to be common ground. So glaring was 
the light, and so strong the excitement, that it 
dazzled their eyes and bewildered their minds. 
They were led on by their excited feelings, and 
soon overleaped the safe Scriptural ground, and 
landed in error. But happily for us, we had a 
M'Kendree among us, who was always watchful ; 
and his penetrating mind marked every movement. 
He had been in the revolutionary war, and was at 
the battle of Yorktown, where Cornwallis was 
taken. In 1820 I passed with him over the ground, 
and he showed me where his camp was. He also 
had been in the O'Kelly war against Bishop As- 
bury and Methodist episcopacy, and had like to 
have been made a prisoner, but was rescued by 
the prudent conduct of Bishop Asbury ; for he 
asked the privilege of traveling with the bishop, 
as a kind of condition to continue in the work. In 
1801 he said to me, " The only reason I had for 
wishing to travel with the bishop was, that I might 
have an opportunity of knowing the man, and find 
out whether he was the man J. O'Kelly repre- 
sented him to be ; and to my great astonishment 
I found him just the reverse of Avhat he was repre- 
sented, and I was fully satisfied." 

Our M'Kendree's advice to preachers and peo- 
ple was, " Hold fast your doctrine and discipline, 
and keep your rules. Others may get along with- 
out rule, but we cannot." This was wholesome 
and seasonable advice, and was attended to. It 



60 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



gave some offense ; but it was a means of keeping 
us together, and we prospered. But mournful to 
tell, those who got above creeds, forms, and con- 
fessions of faith, while they professed to be Bible 
Christians, went from one extreme to another, and 
one error made way for another, till three of their 
most zealous and flaming ministers landed in Sha- 
kerism ; one, if not more, became an Arian ; one 
at least went among the Christ-ians ; and the rest 
either held fast, or returned to their confession of 
faith. This was one of Satan's master-pieces, to 
bring discredit on, if not destroy, one of the great- 
est revivals I ever saw. 

The Presbyterians in Cumberland managed their 
revival much better ; for when they could no longer 
subscribe to every part of the confession of faith, 
they organized an independent presbytery, into 
which they admitted men of gifts and usefulness, 
without requiring a collegiate education; and they 
have kept the holy fire burning, and have gone 
ahead. It was a great, and in some respects a 
strange, work ; or, rather, strange things attended 
it. Sometimes the success of a meeting was count- 
ed by the number that fell; but we adhered to our 
old way, of counting by the number that found 
peace, or were converted. I saw a man who had 
fallen a number of times, and rose without a bless- 
ing. I was present at a meeting where he fell in 
the congregation ; and as the meeting was kept 
up all night, he was laid on a bench in the meeting 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



61 



house, near the door. A wicked doctor collected 
a posse of sinners, who stole the poor fellow ; and 
the doctor bled him, and I do not know what other 
experiments he tried on him. I saw the orifice 
in his arm the next day, for he was down again. 

A young woman was powerfully awakened at 
a prayer meeting where I was, but did not find 
peace. She shortly afterward went to a camp 
meeting, and fell, among many others. When she 
came to, she was speechless, and continued so for 
five weeks. But at a quarterly meeting held at 
Flat Run meeting-house, in Bourbon county, on 
the 13th of September, 1801, it fell to my lot to 
preach in the evening. The work broke out un- 
der singing, and many fell, and among the rest 
this poor dumb girl ; but while brother Burke was 
at prayer with the mourners she began to pray 
aloud, for the Lord loosened her tongue, and soon 
set her captive soul at liberty, and she began to 
praise God aloud, and exhorted all around her to 
seek the Lord. This was a melting time : very 
many found the Lord in this blessed meeting. I 
must conclude for the present. 

Henry Smith. 



62 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



LETTER VIII. 

Dear Brother, — At the suggestion of my 
good brother, J. Frye, I think it is my duty to ex- 
plain a part of my narrative. I think in my third 
letter I say, " As to temperance, I was taught by 
the example and precept of our preachers, from the 
time I first became a member, namely, P. Bruce, 
T. Fleming, Y. Cook, J. Wells, and others, that 
our rules required total abstinence from distilled 
liquor, unless taken as a medicine, in the strict 
sense of the word. This I enforced everywhere 
by precept and example." In the west we had 
some trouble with dram-drinkers. The practice 
was frowned upon as a violation of our rule. But 
when I came in from the west, in the spring of 
1803, I found that it was too common a custom to 
set out the decanter on the sideboard, and have a 
bowl of toddy at dinner ; and some of the preachers 
as well as people partook of the dangerous be- 
verage. It was common, and soon became famiUar. 
A resolution was brought before the Baltimore 
Annual Conference, recommending our people to 
discontinue the practice, and the preachers agreed 
to bear their testimony against it. I think it was 
in the spring of 1810 or 1811. From that con- 
ference I passed through Alexandria, and dined 
at the house of my old friend Isaac Robins, where 
we had a large tumbler of toddy on the table. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



63 



After we were seated, I told him what the con- 
ference had done : he said to his boy, " Here, boy, 
take this, and throw it into the yard." It was 
soon done, and I hope he has never had it at his 
table since. When I was writing that part of my 
narrative it occurred to me that some might not 
understand it, but I was disposed to throw the 
mantle of charity over our past inconsistency by 
being silent on the subject. I perfectly recollect 
that our prominent members in my early days 
would not suffer spirituous liquors to be used in 
their harvest fields. They paid their laborers 
higher wages, and had plenty of hands, and their 
work was well done, and I labored through several 
harvests without using a drop of ardent spirits. 
I now resume my narrative. 

I left Kentucky for Miami on the 1 1th day of 
September, 1799. I crossed the Ohio River near 
the mouth of Little Miami, and pushed on to Mad 
River to see brother Hunt, the preacher on Miami 
circuit, and finding him still in his work, I re- 
turned to Little Miami, and on the 23d I started 
up the Ohio River to form a new circuit. I com- 
menced on Eagle Creek, and directed my course 
toward the mouth of the Scioto, and from thence 
up the river to Chillicothe, and in three weeks 
formed Scioto circuit, preaching a number of times, 
and sending appointments to other places against 
I came round again. In almost every place I met 
with old acquaintances, and many who never knew 



64 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



me were glad to see me ; but as I have already- 
given a pretty full account of my labors and diffi- 
culties in the west, in the Western Christian Ad- 
vocate, I will only take notice of a few things not 
so fully noticed heretofore. 

In the spring of 1800 I came to Baltimore, to 
the General Conference, and by my own request 
was returned to Scioto, though Bishop Asbury was 
disposed to release me, saying, "You have been 
there long enough but as he could get no per- 
son that I thought would suit the place, I went 
back, and continued "there until the fall of 1801. 
In some respects I was as well calculated to be a 
missionary in that country as most men, for I had 
accustomed myself to eat anything that was set 
before me, and could sleep anywhere, and accom- 
modate myself to every inconvenience, so that I 
might do good to the souls and bodies of my fellow- 
men — but in many respects I was greatly deficient. 
That summer, bilious and intermittent fevers pre- 
vailed to a great extent in that country, particu- 
larly on the water-courses, and near the large river 
bottoms. It was a time of great affliction among 
the new settlers. I myself had it. Providen- 
tially I was on a short visit to Kentucky when 
first taken, where I could get medical aid. I was 
very ill, indeed, and life was despaired of by my 
friends ; but Christ was precious, and I was re- 
signed to the will of Heaven ; but being very 
anxious to be at my work, I ventured out before I 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



65 



was well able to ride, and had a relapse, and was 
again brought to death's door ; but I was among 
my beloved flock and at my post. I then felt as 
I never did before, that " faith is the substance of 
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 
My way was clear, and my soul was full of glory. 
As soon as I was able to ride, I pushed ahead ; 
but being much exposed, I relapsed again and 
again, so that I did not get entirely clear of 
intermittent fevers for more than eighteen months ; 
but I pressed on through thick and thin, though in 
great weakness, and often suffered much. I start- 
ed in February, 1801, from Point Creek for New- 
market, a distance of nearly fifty miles, and about 
thirty miles through a wilderness, where no one 
lived. I was overtaken by a tremendous snow- 
storm mixed with hail, and began to think that my 
lot was hard, and wept, till I met a poor fellow 
who was out in the storm as well as myself. I 
said to myself, This man is not as well clad as I 
am, and he is out on his own business, and I am 
on the Lord's business. I dried up my tears, and 
went on cheerfully, with a heart to sing, 

" In hope of that immortal crown, 
I now the cross sustain, 
And gladly wander up and down, 
And smile at toil and pain." 

Next day I preached to a small but serious 
congregation, A decent young man was deeply 
5 



66 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



impressed with what was said, and came to me 
that evening to converse with me. I talked much 
to him, and prayed for him. At this place James 
B. Finley, and nearly all the family, were con- 
verted, a few years afterward. 

One day in August, as I was going from St. 
Clairsville to my appointment, in company with 
T. Odle, a local brother, we saw some men digging 
a grave. We inquired who was dead, and were 
told a young man in the neighborhood who died 
of a short illness with a sore throat. We started 
on, when one called after us, and asked if we 
would not stay and preach a funeral sermon. I 
sent on brother Odle, as I had an appointment 
the next day in the neighborhood, and stayed. It 
was a large funeral, and I had an opportunity of 
preaching to many who had never heard me, and 
perhaps never would have heard me, if it had not 
been for this circumstance. The Lord assisted 
me, and I preached as if it were to be my last ser- 
mon ; and I had a fair opportunity of warning the 
people, particularly the young, for this young man 
was at my meeting three weeks before, in perfect 
health. His case was rather singular. Eio^ht 
months before he died his father was drowned in 
crossing the Ohio River. That day, perhaps at 
the very time that it happened, he came to his 
mother and said, " Father is dead ; he was drowned 
in the Ohio." His mother rebuked him, but he 
said, "It is so, and you will see it." After he 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



67 



had gone to bed lie called to his mother to know 
if his father had to cross the Ohio River. The 
next morning, perhaps that night, word came 
that the old man was dead. A few weeks before 
this poor young man died he came to his mother 
again, and said, "I shall die soon." His poor 
mother was quite surprised, and said, " How do 
you know it ?" He said, " Father came to me 
in a dream, and told me I should die soon ; and 
you will see that it will be so." But I fear he 
remained impenitent, and was not prepared, for 
death overtook him rather suddenly. 

The people all went away after the funeral, and 
I do not recollect that any invited me home with 
them. The afflicted widow, however, pressed me 
to stay with her that night. I was very feeble, 
and had eaten nothing since early in the morning, 
and it was now near night. Here my philosophy 
was put to a severe trial, for when bed-time came 
I was conducted to the room from which the corpse 
had been taken a few hours before, to sleep on 
the bedstead, perhaps the very bed, on which the 
young man had died, without the house having been 
scrubbed and properly aired. I laid me down to 
sleep, but the noisy dogs without, and the busy fleas 
and bugs within, kept me awake the whole night. 
After breakfast I started for my appointment, sick 
enough, but got a few hours' sleep at John Bryan's 
before the people came together for preaching. 
We had a, very large congregation, so that I had 



68 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



to preach out of doors ; and if ever I preaclied 
with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, I 
did that day. The word seemed to reach every 
heart, and all were in tears ; and some dated their 
conviction from that day's labor. Many came into 
the class meeting, and among them the poor widow 
from whose house I came that morning. One 
said to me afterward, " I was blind and ignorant 
till I heard you preach under the trees, and as I 
went home I felt as if I was a rich man." I soon 
had more work than a strong, healthy man could 
do. No preacher being sent to Miami that year, 
I had to go down to them once a quarter, and 
hold a quarterly meeting with them. I had also 
many invitations, from various quarters, to visit 
destitute settlements ; but my time was well filled 
up, and I was often sorry that I could not comply 
with the wishes of the people. A brother Cole 
came twenty miles, from the waters of Hockhock- 
ing, to see me, and begged me to come and preach 
to them, for there were a few Methodist families 
settled in a wilderness, and many had not heard 
a sermon since they had been there, the nearest 
preaching to them being about fifteen or twenty 
miles, and a bad road. I made an appointment 
for a two days' meeting at his house, and the poor 
brother left me with a light heart and cheerful 
countenance. 

On the last day of January, 1801, I rode over, 
and found the poor starving sheep in the wilder- 



AN OLD ITINEIIANT. 



69 



ness, surrounded by wolves, and had no kind of 
shepherd to care for their souls. When I came 
among them they " thanked God and took cour- 
age," and fed freely in a green pasture, and seem- 
ed to be abundantly satisfied. I felt my own soul 
much alive to God, and preached again at night, 
and the Lord was present indeed. O, who but a 
missionary can feel as I felt among these dear 
destitute people, in this dark place ! 

Sunday, February 1st, our log cabin was crowd- 
ed from end to end, and our great Master was in 
the midst of us, and made himself known to us in 
the breaking of bread. We had twenty-five or 
thirty communicants, who found the body and 
blood of Christ to be meat and drink indeed. 
The Lord also was in his word, and it was spirit 
and life. 

I had to promise to visit them again in the 
summer, which I had a great desire to do, but 
could never accomplish. The harvest was great, 
and the laborers few — one poor, sickly traveling 
preacher only in a large territorry. 

On the first day of May I set out on my quar- 
terly visit to Miami, with an intention of visiting 
a considerable part of that circuit, and settling 
some unhappy disputes in two of the societies on 
Mad River, and holding a quarterly meeting at 
Gatches, on Miami. I had long rides over bad 
roads, in the midst of much rain, and I repeatedly 
got wet, and the ague returned upon me. One 



70 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



day, while I was preaching on Mad River, shak- 
ing from head to foot with the ague, I requested the 
people to bear with me, and went on as well as I 
could till the fever came on, and then I had great 
liberty of speech. I went on to meet the society, 
and happily succeeded in making peace, and we 
were all glad, and I left them with a high fever, 
but a glad heart. The next day I rode about 
fourteen miles, on my way back to Little Miami, 
having several appointments on the way. I got 
to but one in time, (Deerfield.) The people met 
to hear the word ; but the preacher was in bed 
with a raging fever, and not able to sit up till 
toward evening. Monday, the 18th, I got to my 
old friend M'Cormick's. I rested till Saturday, 
and took medicine, and recovered so far as to be 
able to preach and hold the quarterly meeting at 
brother Gatches' ; and it was a blessed season of 
refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Light? 
love, and power, prevailed ; and, although I was 
sick, I found it good to be there. Here my 
brother Michael, from Virginia, on his way home 
from Kentucky, met me. 

Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



71 



LETTER IX. 

Dear Brother, — On the 25tli of May I 
started, in company with my brother, for New- 
market, and arrived on the 26th, in the evening. 
I was both weary and unwell, but found my sister 
and family well. My brother, seeing my situa- 
tion — his sympathies being waked up — per- 
suaded me to go home with him, and promised to 
bear my expenses, and help me along. My sister 
approved of the step, though sorry to part with me. 
Their reasons appeared to be plausible : I was so 
worn down by sickness, and not able to do much, 
and in danger of dying alone in the widerness, on 
some of my long routes. This was a trying time, 
and with me a dark and cloudy day. I yielded, 
and made up my mind to go home. This I record 
as one of the errors of my itinerant life ; I am yet 
ashamed of my weakness. I know that I then 
had as much resolution as falls to the lot of most 
men, and could endure hardships as patiently ; 
and how I could consent to leave five or six hun- 
dred souls (by the providence of God committed 
to my charge) in the wilderness, unprovided for, 
I could hardly conceive, when the snare was 
broken. A poor shepherd, about to fiee from 
danger and sufferings, and leave the flock. But 
when I came to Eagle Creek, where I had left 
some of my things, the friends hung around me, 



72 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



and entreated me with tears not to leave them. 
This was too much for me ; my resolution, which 
was founded in error, gave way like a spider's 
web. I soon came to a better mind, and we were 
comforted together. I sent my brother home ; 
but next day the ague returned, and I had it for 
six successive days very severely indeed. On the 
8th of June I began to mend, and on the IStli I 
was again on horseback pursuing my course. 

Among other disasters that befell me I had the 
itch two or three times in the year. I had re- 
course to various remedies, till an old motherly 
lady, at whose house I had often put up, said she 
could cure me. She took sulphur, rosin, and 
black pepper, an equal quantity of each, beat 
it into powder, and the same quantity of hogs- 
lard, and mixed it up into a mass, and tied it in a 
rag, and hung it before a large fire. The drip- 
pings made a very pleasant salve, not at all offen- 
sive. I was told to rub my joints only with it, 
before the fire, at bed time ; but I was so anxious 
to get rid of the hateful disease, that I gave myself 
a pretty general anointing. It strongly affected 
my nerves, and I had a restless night, but it effect- 
ually cured me of the itch. I have never had it 
since ; and from the number of times that I must 
have slept in infected beds, and come in contact 
with persons who had it, I am inclined to think I 
am proof against it. Perhaps some poor sufferer 
may profit by the recipe* 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



73 



I labored on as well as I could, and, thank 
the Lord, I had some success, for he gave seals 
to my ministry, and gave me souls for my hire ; 
backsliders were reclaimed, and I trust others 
were kept from backsliding. On the 1st of Sep- 
tember, 1801, I crossed the Ohio Kiver, and re- 
turned to Kentucky, intending, if possible, to get 
to the conference in Holstein district. I attended 
several quarterly meetings by the way, where 
thousands assembled, and numbers were converted. 
The last in my way was on Flat Run, Bourbon 
county. At this meeting the Lord wrought pow- 
erfully, and a great many fell under his mighty 
power. Monday was a great day of this meeting. 
Among the mourners that morning I met with a 
young man, the son of our old brother Smith, at 
whose house I stayed. I believe all the family 
had religion but poor Thomas, and he was a moral, 
good-natured young man, and used to say he could 
soon get religion when he set about it. But now 
he was under deep conviction, yet his heart was 
hard ; and he felt as if he could neither repent 
nor believe. I labored long with him, but left 
him in distress, and went to hear a sermon under 
the trees. Being in a copious perspiration, and 
having previously exposed myself to the night 
air, while listening to the preacher I began to 
shake with the ague, and had to go to the house 
and to bed with a high fever. I was much blest 
at this meeting, though I was afflicted. When I 



74 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



got a little better I pushed on to Lexington, still 
in hopes of getting to conference ; but got worse 
in Lexington, and had to give up all hope of get- 
ting there. When I got better, I visited some of 
mj friends, and attended a Presbyterian sacra- 
ment; also a camp meeting. After a long dry- 
sermon on Sunday, and a very long sacrament, 
I, according to previous appointment, preached 
another sermon. I thought the people were so 
worn out and dull that I had no prospect of doing 
any good. A few were near the stand when I 
began to sing ; more came up while we were sing- 
ing : but when w^e rose from prayer a large con- 
gregation had gathered around the stand, to whom 
I preached with great liberty ; and the Lord sent 
his word to the hearts of the people. They drank 
in every word like a thirsty land, and great was 
the consolation. I preached again on Monday 
morning, when many fell under the word, some 
from their seats, and others while standing on their 
feet. 

I fell in with brother Burke, who desired me to 
take his place on Hinkston circuit, while he went 
to meet the preachers from conference ; I had 
many precious meetings while he was gone. On 
Thursday, the 17th, I rode to Dr. Hinde's, the 
father of ^^Theophilus Arminius," who gave us so 
many delightful sketches of revivals in the western 
country, some years ago, through our Magazine. 
The doctor and his intelligent wife I found to be 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



75 



among the excellent of tlie earth, a true sample 
of early Methodists. There I found mj old friend 
and brother, J. Sale, who was also prevented from 
going to conference ; and under the doctor's hands. 
A four days' meeting being appointed in this neigh- 
borhood, for Friday, the 18th, we went to it, and 
had a gracious time, particularly at sacrament and 
in love-feast. Monday morning, when we were 
going to the stand, brother Burke arrived, and 
brought brother M'Kendree, our presiding elder, 
with him. This meeting was rather unexpected, 
but it was joyful, and in the spirit of simplicity 
and brofherly love. Brother M'Kendree preached 
us a delightful sermon on the Lord's prayer. I 
now heard that the field of labor assigned me was 
on Limestone circuit again. This was a three 
weeks' circuit; and Lewis Hunt, a young but 
broken down preacher, was appointed with me as 
supernumerary. His brother lived on the cir- 
cuit, at whose house he lay sick. He was very 
anxious to see me, but before I got round to 
where he was, he had finished his short race, and 
had gone to his reward. I loved this young man 
very much, and his premature death took hold of 
my feelings, and I wept over his grave. Shortly 
after I came on the circuit I preached at Mr. 
Philip's, on a week-day, to a small congregation. 
After preaching, I published my appointment for 
that day three weeks, and requested them to come 
again, bringing as many of their neighbors and 



76 



EECOLLECTIONS OF 



friends with them as they could prevail on to 
come, as I hoped the Lord would do something 
for us. A pious little girl went home and told 
her parents what was said, (they were old back- 
sliders,) and added, '^You must go." The night 
before the meeting the mother dreamed that one 
of her servants, then dead, came to her, and said, 
" Mistress, be up and doing." I was somewhat 
perplexed to find a suitable text, but my mind fixed 
upon this, " Why stand ye here all the day idle ?" 
There was a large week-day congregation ; and 
the word was sent to many hearts, particularly to 
this woman's, and she set out once more in good 
earnest for heaven. Her husband also was pow- 
erfully wrought upon by the good Spirit of God. 
This was the beginning of better days in that 
place. When but few people in a neighborhood 
leave their business on a week-day, and come to 
hear a sermon, it is cruel in the preachers to send 
them away with a little dry exhortation; or a 
cold, scolding sermon. Give them a heart-warm- 
ing sermon, and send them away fed and encour- 
aged, and they will come again, and bring others 
with them ; but they will hardly bring any one 
with them to hear a bit of an exhortation, or a 
scolding sermon, if they come themselves. 

Many of our converts had not been baptized ; 
and as they had never heard or read anything on 
the subject of baptism, except from the Baptists, 
they of course thought that immersion was the 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



77 



right way, and that there was no other way. 
What was to be done ? I was their pastor, and 
they looked to me for instruction. I felt myself 
unqualified to discuss the subject. It is true I had 
read the best tracts on the subject that fell in my 
way, had studied the subject as well as I was 
able, and had furnished myself with such argu- 
ments as I thought would meet the case. 

Some men have both taste and talent for con- 
troversy ; I had neither. It was truly a strange 
thing to see Henry Smith enter a field so repug- 
nant to his feelings, and for which he was so 
poorly qualified. On the 18th of January, 1802, 
I ventured to preach a sermon on the proper sub- 
jects and mode of Christian baptism, and my good 
Master assisted me. It had a happy effect ; for aU 
the members of a large society, who were present, 
became perfectly satisfied. One who was so pre- 
judiced in favor of immersion that he would not 
come and hear me, was afterward convinced by 
conversing with those w^ho had heard me, and was 
baptized, with all his children. 

The thing was new, and made not a little noise 
through the country. I had an invitation to preach 
at one H. Plummer's on Cabin Creek, and sent an 
appointment. This was a Baptist neighborhood. 
On the 9 th of February I attended : a report had 
been circulated that I was going to preach on bap- 
tism, and two Baptist preachers came out to oppose 
me. Before I began to preach, I told the people 



78 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



that I had no intention of preaching on that subject, 
and had authorized no such reports. I also stated 
that I was not fond of controversy, and had charge 
of no society there ; but if it was thought necessary, 
at any future time, to preach on that subject, I 
should give notice. I preached, and the Lord 
attended his word, and sent it to the hearts of the 
people. I formed a society of eleven members, 
the chief Baptist preacher's wife making one of 
them. After meeting, the preacher came to me, 
and said, " I am glad that you have not come to 
cut off the Christian's privilege." This was in- 
viting a controversy at once. I however avoided 
entering into any dispute with him. I went to hear 
these preachers that night, and was fully satisfied 
I had nothing to fear from either of them. O 
what a pity it is that the spirits of ministers should 
be soured against each other ! I made an appoint- 
ment to visit my new congregation again that day 
three weeks, and left them. When I returned, in 
three weeks, I was met by one of the most intelli- 
gent men in the neighborhood. I believe his wife 
had joined society. He accosted me thus : — " No 
poor creatures have been treated as we have been 
since you left us. They have reported that you 
would have preached on baptism, but that you 
were intimidated by the presence of the preachers ; 
and if you do not intend to defend your doctrine 
and usages, you might as well leave us, for we 
cannot stand it," So I had to come out again on 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



79 



baptism that day three weeks, before a very large 
congregation. The reverend gentlemen were 
again present, to tear my doctrine to pieces, and 
expose my arguments. I was divinely aided and 
graciously supported in body and mind; for I 
talked three hours. After I was done, I offered 
the stand to any one who was disposed to reply. 
The chief speaker took the stand, and said he was 
not prepared to reply then, for there were some 
new arguments made use of ; he wanted time to re- 
flect, &c. ; but would reply at some future time. I 
said in justice he ought to do it then to my face, 
and not when I was gone ; especially as he had 
come for that purpose. He said he would do it 
that day three weeks ; to which I objected, as I 
wished to preach on another subject on that day. 
He then made an appointment the day following 
my next appointment, at another place ; I gave 
notice that I should attend. 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER X. 

Dear Brother, — I am not a little mortified 
to trouble you or your readers with my uninter- 
esting controversy with my Baptist friends, but as 
it made a part of my difficulty and trials on 
Limestone circuit, I could not well suppress it. 
On the 29th of May I attended to hear the reply 



80 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



to my sermon ; but about ten days previously I 
had another return of the ague, and that was my 
ague day. I was very weak, and had a high 
fever, but no ague. It is a little remarkable, that 
in all the sickness I ever had, I never suffered so 
much in the head as I have heard some persons 
complain of. 

When the fever came on, my mind was gene- 
rally clear, and free from embarrassment. The 
preacher misrepresented me before a very large 
congregation, treated me very unfairly, and con- 
cluded by saying, " Not another word shall be 
said here on controversy this day." I claimed it 
as my privilege to rejoin, but was still refused. I 
however obtained liberty to publish my appoint- 
ment, when I should take up the subject, and an- 
swer for myself, as they all saw that I was not 
permitted to do it there. When the day arrived, 
we had pleasant weather, and a very large congre- 
gation of all sorts of people. My fairness, and 
the preacher's conduct toward me, gave me the 
vantage ground ; and what I said had a prodigious 
effect upon the public mind. Many declared the 
victory complete in favor of infant baptism and 
sprinkling, and many prejudiced minds were sha- 
ken, while others were deeply mortified. Brother 
M'Kendree preached one sermon on baptism, and 
brother Burke two sermons on the same subject, 
in different parts of our circuit, and we had 
peace on that subject in all our borders, I bap- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



81 



tized a great many adults as well as infants that 
year ; and upon the whole we had prosperity. 

On the 29th of May our quarterly meeting 
commenced at brother John Armstrong's, a pious 
family from Ireland. The old people I thought 
among the salt of the earth. Brother M'Kendree 
preached a powerful sermon. The people were 
very much tendered under the word. I got a 
foretaste of heaven, but was obliged to come away 
with the ague upon me, and retire to my bed. 
Sunday morning, the 30th, we had the sacrament 
of the Lord's supper and love-feast. I baptized 
ten adults that morning, all of whom came to the 
Lord's table. Brother M'Kendree was greatly 
assisted in preaching ; and the word ran like fire 
from heart to heart through the whole congrega- 
tion. But Monday, the 31st, was the great day 
of the feast. The congregation was not large, so 
we had preaching in the house. 

While brother M'Kendree was preaching, an 
overwhelming sense of the presence of God fell 
upon the congregation, so that the whole house 
appeared to be filled with the glory of the Lord. 
Almost every one was prostrated by it. I was in 
another room, sick, and in bed ; but the power of 
God was there. We had but little noise or shout- 
ing, but a " silent heaven of love " was felt and 
enjoyed by many. I have sometimes said people 
may get too happy to shout : I think that this was 

exemplified on that occasion. Brother Armstrong's 
6 



82 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



daughter, who had been converted that day three 
weeks, fell under a sense of the overs^^helming 
power of God, and lay four hours ; she revived, 
praising the Lord ; and a more angelic counte- 
nance I never saw. Her language seemed to be- 
long to another world ; a more enraptured soul I 
never expect to see this side of heaven. Nothing 
wild or repulsive was at any time exhibited. The 
meeting began at ten o'clock, and continued till 
near sunset. The scene is at this moment pre- 
sent to my mind, and I feel a spark of the holy 
fire yet burning. 

On the 7th of March, 1802, I preached a 
funeral sermon at Brackon meeting-house. It 
was an uncomfortably cold day for the season, but 
the people were much affected by the word. As 
I was going toward the door, after preaching, one 
desired me to talk to a man in distress. I 
found him under deep conviction : we sung and 
prayed with him. Two or three others were 
wrought upon by the Spirit of God. I was after- 
w^ard informed that this man (Mofford by name) 
had been one of the most wicked sinners in the 
settlement. A few days before this he was going 
to a gathering. His wife had just been confined, 
and was very ill, and begged him not to go and 
leave her, saying, " What would you think if you 
should find me and the child both dead when you 
return He replied, " You could not die in a 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



83 



better time, the child at any rate," and went on. 
That night, while drinking at a tavern with two 
of his bottle companions, the power of the Lord 
arrested them, and the arrows of the Almighty 
pierced them, and they screamed out as if just 
dropping into hell. The Lord can w^ork without 
means, it is true ; but what a rare thing it is for 
sinners, under such circumstances, to get so power- 
fully awakened ! This was a year of some affliction 
and vexation, but also of great comfort to my soul. 

Our last quarterly meeting for the year began 
on the 3d of September, and continued four days. 
It was a kind of camp quarterly meeting. The 
presence of the Lord was graciously manifested. 
I now took my leave of my friends in Limestone 
circuit, and attended several quarterly meetings 
on my way to conference ; each continuing four 
days. The last was held at Edward Talbot's, four 
miles from Shelbyville. A great crowd of people 
and preachers attended ; and this also was a time 
of the power of God to many souls. I will here 
give a specimen of Kentucky hospitality on such 
occasions. I think brother Talbot must have pro- 
vided for forty or fifty persons besides a number 
of horses. He prepared a large pen for the horses. 
Every man took care of his own horse, and had 
directions to go into the corn-field, and cut as much 
corn as he pleased to give his horse. Perhaps an 
acre or more was cut down in this way. I never 



84 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



knew a Kentucky horse to be injured by this 
mode of feeding. My horse has often been turn- 
ed into the corn-field in the fall, where he could 
eat blades, grass, pumpkins, or corn, as it suited 
him. The house of our brother, and also his 
barn, were crowded with people. 

From this meeting we set out for conference in 
Cumberland, Tennessee. Saturday and Sunday, 
24th and 25th, we attended a sacramental meeting 
at Manoah Lastly's, father to Thomas Lastly, 
who was afterward called to the ministry, and 
traveled with Bishop M'Kendree as his companion. 
We had a gracious season ; souls were converted 
to God, and many hearts w^ere made glad. 
Friday, October 1st, our conference began at 
brother Strawder's station-camp. We had but a 
small conference, and sat in a small upper room, 
in sight of the camp ground, where a camp meet- 
ing was in progress. On Saturday, 2d, Bishop 
Asbury arrived, under great affliction. His 
stomach was very much disordered, and his 
throat so sore that it was with great difficulty he 
could speak so as to be understood. The disorder 
descended to his feet — he had nearly lost the use 
of his limbs, and was in great pain. Brother 
M'Kendree presided in the conference; and the 
bishop applied to Rev. Messrs. Hodge and M'Gee, 
Presbyterian ministers, to supply his lack of ser- 
vice in the stand. By the assistance of brother 
M'Kendree, the dear old man made out to ordain 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



85 



the deacons and elders : though so deeply afflicted, 
and in constant pain, I never saw him happier. 
I did not wonder at this, for there was not a jar- 
ring string among the preachers ; no want of con- 
fidence and brotherly love; and a prosperous 
camp meeting going on in sight of our conference 
room — where Presbyterians and Methodists were 
all united as a band of brethren. Our Presby- 
terian brethren not only communed with us, but 
their ministers assisted in the administration of 
the sacred ordinance in our mode. This is the 
ground on which Protestant churches must meet, 
if they would evangelize the world. They must 
cease to unchurch each other, and refrain from 
putting in their high and exclusive claims. They 
must think for themselves, and grant others the 
same privilege ; and unite to love, and treat as 
brethren, those whom their great Master, the only 
Head of the Christian church, is pleased to 
acknowledge as his ministers. I need not add 
that we had a very pleasant conference. I was 
appointed to Nollechuckie circuit again, with in- 
structions to return to Baltimore Conference in 
the spring. We adjourned on Tuesday, and 
rested on Wednesday. Thursday, the 7th, I set 
out, in company with Bishop Asbury, brothers 
M'Kendree, Watson, and others, for the wilder- 
ness road, through the Indian lands, to West 
Point. The poor bishop was not able to walk 
a step without assistance, and was lifted on his 



86 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



horse, and off again, like a child. I was not able 
to assist him, willing as I was, for I was deprived 
of the use of one of my arms by the rheumatism. 
We, however, pushed ahead to Shaw's ; but our 
dear old bishop suffered much, so that I almost 
forgot my own afflictions : I slept with him ; he 
had a restless night, and I was up with him seve- 
ral times. He talked much about the state of the 
church in all the conferences ; and who could feel 
sleepy while an Asbury was talking of his travels 
through the continent, and imparting information 
from every conference ? I was much instructed 
and edified by his conversation. He was remark- 
ably cheerful, although he suffered severely. I 
soon got better ; and meeting with two brethren 
who were going to North Carolina, and who in- 
tended to travel through the wilderness, I left the 
bishop in charge of brothers M'Kendree and 
Watson, and went on my way. How the bishop 
fared in passing the wilderness, you may see in 
his Journal, page 81, 3d volume. 

The first night we came to a new cabin, where 
there was a family, and obtained shelter for the 
night. The second night we lodged by the side 
of a good fire in the woods. The third night we 
camped in the edge of a barren, within hearing of 
an Indian camp. We heard the voices of the In- 
dians, but did not see them. As we turned out our 
horses to graze, we were somewhat afraid they 
might come and steal them. About midnight it 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



87 



began to rain liard, and, as we could sleep no more, 
we concluded we might as well ride as sit in the 
rain. We got up our horses, fed, and started. 
By the good providence of God we reached West 
Point, mouth of Clinch River, (twentj-five miles,) 
by eight o'clock, to breakfast ; and I rode on to 
brother Winton's, Grassy Valley. My exposure 
to the rain brought on the rheumatism again, 
and I had it, more or less, all the fall and winter. 
My jaws were so affected that I could not masti- 
cate food for several days at a time ; indeed every 
limb and joint was affected. Sometimes I could 
not dress and undress without assistance ; and yet 
I lost but few appointments. If I could not preach 
to the people, I was in my place to show my will- 
ingness to serve them, which gave some satisfac- 
tion. Our preaching places were generally far 
apart. If I missed one, I could not reach my 
appointment next day in time. I suffered much ; 
but, thank the Lord, I also had consolation in my 
soul : I met with kind and sympathizing friends, 
and I saw some fruit of my labor. 

What I said respecting our brother J. A. Gra- 
nade ought to have come in here ; for brother 
Granade was not converted when I first traveled 
on Nollichuckie. I made the mistake by trust- 
ing too much to memory, and by not looking at 
dates. 

Our last quarterly meeting was appointed to be 
at Ebenezer meeting-house, on the first Saturday 



88 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



and Sunday in March, 1803. As our presiding 
elder was not expected, T went on toward the 
place, much depressed, expecting very little assist- 
ance ; but I fell in with two preachers from the 
south — brothers Black and MiUigan. Mj poor 
heart was much cheered. I thanked God, and 
took courage; but, when we got the meeting- 
house on Saturday, who should come in but our 
beloved M'Kendree, who was on his way to 
Kentucky. 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER XI. 

Dear Brother, — "When our M'Kendree ap- 
peared in the congregation, every heart was cheer- 
ed, and I almost shouted aloud. Xow we were 
well supplied with preachers. Brother M'Ken- 
dree preached three sermons, with the Holy Ghost 
sent down from heaven ; and the effect was glorious 
indeed. Our meeting was honored by the great 
Head of the church, and great was our consolation. 
But at this meeting I had my evil things as well 
as good ; for when I rose on Saturday morning I 
could not stand on my left foot, for the rheumatism 
so affected my knee that it would not bear my 
weight. It was not inflamed or very painful at 
first. I was, however, prevented from going to 
meeting that night. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



89 



The time had now arrived when it was neces- 
sary for me to take my leave of my friends on 
Nolliehuckie circuit. I attended a few more ap- 
pointments ; but my knee became inflamed and 
very painful. On Friday, the 13th of March, I 
commenced a journey of four hundred miles, though 
very lame, and not able to walk a step without a 
crutch or cane. I trusted in that divine Provi- 
dence that had always sustained me for assistance 
during my journey. At night I fell in with my 
old friend and esteemed brother, John Watson, 
my presiding elder, at Edward Cox's, on Watauga, 
Holstein circuit, where he was about to commence 
a quarterly meeting. I was required to preach on 
Sunday morning, though obliged to stand on one 
foot only. I felt great enlargement of heart, and 
the word went to the hearts of the people. It was 
a glorious meeting, and some were awakened and 
converted to God. I now parted with brother 
Watson. In the fall of 1795 we left the Baltimore 
Conference together, for the west. He remained 
there a few years longer than I, and afterward 
returned to Baltimore. He had a bad delivery, 
and was never a very agreeable preacher ; but he 
was devoted to his work, and zealous in his Master's 
cause. Few men understood our doctrines and 
discipline better than John Watson. When in his 
best days, he was acceptable and useful in the west. 
After he became superannuated, he wandered about 
from place to place, visiting his friends; and a few 



90 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



years ago he died in peace. Perhaps it would have 
been better for him had he married some pious sis- 
ter, at a proper period ; for he would, having means 
and management to provide for a family, it is pro- 
bable, have been much happier in a family circle 
than he was even among his best friends. I have 
often been pained when I have seen a kind of dis- 
like to the few old bachelors still in the ministry; 
but if our young preachers had lived forty-five or 
fifty years ago, they would not wonder why so 
many of the old preachers never married. Few 
men had the courage to expose a wife to the hard- 
ships and privations of an itinerant life, as things 
then were — when there was no provision made for 
a preacher's family, and, withal, when he might 
expect to be coldly received, if not frowned upon, 
almost everywhere. The doctrine was : " A tra- 
veling preacher has no busiress with a wife: let 
him locate, and take care of his wife." Many 
who would have married under other circumstan- 
ces, could not conscientiously forsake the work, 
when the harvest was so great and the laborers 
were so few. I would humbly say to the present 
race of preachers and members in the Methodist 
Church, that the church owes much, almost every- 
thing, under God, to the labors of unmarried 
preachers. Let them think of Asbury, Whatcoat, 
M'Kendree, and others. I would add, let the 
church take good care of the very few that remain, 
and bear with their infirmities and peculiarities. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



91 



The churcli will soon be rid of them ; and these 
self-denying and devoted men will be hailed by the 
church triumphant, and be rewarded for their la- 
bors of love. 

On Monday, the 1 6th, I proceeded on my jour- 
ney ; and at night tarried with a kind family, where 
I found brother Granade sick. Though yet young, 
and of a strong constitution, he was already pretty 
well broken down by long and loud preaching, and 
excessive labor. I found him, nevertheless, very 
happy. During the family devotions he shouted 
aloud. 

On the 17th I reached Abington, in the evening, 
where I met brother L. Blackman ; and I preached 
in the court-house that night. We had a respect- 
able congregation of attentive hearers, with one 
exception. An individual, who was intoxicated, 
repeatedly interrupted us by his groans and loud 
amens. At last he looked up to me, and said, 
" Sir, can you tell me whether a hiimble-hee is a 
beast or a fowl ?" A magistrate ordered a con- 
stable to take him out, and put him in jail. The 
order was soon obeyed, and they handled the poor 
fellow rather roughly. In thrusting him into the 
prison, two prisoners got out, and made their es- 
cape. A great hue and cry was raised, and the 
whole town was in an uproar ; but brother Black- 
man went on with his exhortaion as if nothing had 
happened. I have often thought of former days, 
when we preachers are thrown into confusion by 



92 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



some trifling thing. But one sinner can destroy 
much good. 

On "Wednesday, the 18th, I pursued my journey; 
and kind Heaven favored me, so that I was able 
to travel every day, except some very rainy days. 
The Lord sent his angels to guard his feeble ser- 
vant, and no accident befell me by the way, though 
I rode in great pain, for my knee got worse. I 
met with kind friends all the way; and on Satur- 
day, the 24th, I arrived at Stephensburg, where a 
quarterly meeting was in progress. I stopped at 
the door of my old friend William M'Leod, and 
was kindly received. Brother Edward Matthews, 
one of the preachers on that circuit, soon found me 
out, and embraced me affectionately. He told me 
that my father and stepmother, my brother, and 
both my sisters, were in the town, and that my 
sisters were both happy in the Lord. I believe 
they were converted through the instrumentaUty 
of brother J. Quinn. I had not heard from home 
for about eighteen months. Such news was enough 
to make a lame man leap for joy. We had now 
but one brother, of six children, out of Christ. 
For him we made continual prayer. (About two 
years ago I received a letter from that brother, 
informing me that he and all his family were con- 
verted.) My kind-hearted brother Matthews soon 
went in search of my father and friends. He found 
my brother, and brought him to me ; and he and 
brother Matthews helped me on to the meeting- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



93 



house that night. They were both in perfect 
health at that time, and I was then so weak and 
disabled as to need assistance ; but they have both 
gone to the house appointed for all living, and I 
am left to linger a little longer. After preaching 
I embraced my father. My sisters I had no op- 
portunity of speaking to ; but I saw them in the 
congregation, and heard them sing and shout the 
praise of God. 

This may not be interesting to your readers ; 
but such a meeting, in such a place, and under 
such circumstances, cannot be forgotten by me. 
Happy was our meeting on earth : a meeting far 
happier we expect in heaven. 

On Sunday morning, the 25th, I went to the 
love-feast, and spoke of what I had seen and heard 
in the west. I left the meeting that afternoon, 
and went to the home from which I had been so 
long and so far removed, with my father and the 
rest of the family who were with us. Rest was 
now very desirable. My soul was much drawn 
out in love and gratitude to God. Indeed, I was 
continually rejoicing. 

On Sunday, April the 10th, I had the privilege 
of preaching once more in my father's house to 
my friends and neighbors, and the Lord gra- 
ciously assisted me. Many wept, and the Lord's 
people were much refreshed. 

I wrote to Bishop Asbury where I was, and how 
I was. On the 17th I preached at the White House 



94 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



meeting-house. I received there a plan of Win- 
chester circuit, and was informed that I was ap- 
pointed to labor there, and that brother J. Brown- 
ing was to be mj colleague. We had a precious 
class meeting, and four individuals were added to 
the society. I preached at home in the afternoon, 
where we felt the presence of God. I was still 
on my crutches ; and, at times, in much pain. I 
hardly ever failed to have a large congregation 
when I preached at home. It seemed to me that 
the people came out of curiosity to hear what their 
neighbor's son, once so wild, had to say. My old 
companions in folly, and my schoolmates, were 
often present, which was always a cross to me : 
but to be put in charge of the circuit, and become 
a preacher and pastor in my own immediate neigh- 
borhood, was a burden almost more than I could 
bear. I had now an opportunity of revisiting 
places endeared to me by the recollections of 
former days. I could now look at places, too, that 
reminded me of sore spiritual conflicts ; where, 
when I heard the voice of the Lord saying to me, 
" Go, and preach my gospel," I had wept and 
prayed, and begged to be excused. O ! how often 
did I think, and sometimes say, I would rather 
follow the plough, or drive a team, all the days of 
my life, or do anything that I could do with a 
clear conscience, than be a preacher. I could now 
bring to recollection how often I rose long before 
day, and read the New Testament, with Wesley's 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



95 



Notes, and a few other books I had ; and how often 
I carried a Testament in my bosom into the field 
where I was ploughing, and, while my horses were 
resting, sat down in a fence corner and read, and 
prayed over it. For I think no one could be more 
anxious to understand the Scriptures than I was. 
Everything that I read or heard, that cast light 
upon the word of God, I treasured up. These 
reflections had a tendency to humble me into the 
dust, and lead me to cry mightily to the Lord. 

I had preached several times in the circuit ; but 
on Tuesday morning, May 3, I left home, with my 
staff in hand, to take my regular round. I went 
with fear and trembling, and preached at John 
Scarff's to a small, but serious congregation. Some 
appeared to be deeply convinced of sin. One poor 
man, who was under serious impressions, came 
back that evening to converse with me. In time 
of family prayer the Lord wrought powerfully 
upon him. He lost the use of his limbs, fell pros- 
trate on the floor, and cried aloud for mercy. In 
a short time the Lord blessed his soul, and he 
shouted glory to God, for four hours, with very 
little intermission. I called upon some one to 
pray ; but no one could pray. So I prayed again, 
and one df brother Scarff's daughters cried out, 
" What shall I do ? O ! what shall I do I told 
her to give her heart to Jesus. She then said, 
" O, Jesus ! take my heart, and seal it," and soon 
found peace. Then three of her sisters were 



96 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



brought to cry for mercy. Greater agonies of dis- 
tress I hardly ever saw; but before one o'clock 
they were all happily converted to God, and 
praised the Lord while they were up, and after 
they had retired. A happier family I never saw : 
the father, mother, two sons, and four daugh- 
ters, all as happy as they well could be in the 
body ; and their neighbors went shouting home. 
The next morning we had another shout at family 
prayer. 

The bilious fever made dreadful havoc in this 
pious family some years afterward, and I was 
called upon to preach the funeral sermon of the 
mother, one son, and three daughters, at the same 
time. All died happy in the Lord, within a few 
weeks of each other. It affords me great comfort 
to know that some fruit of my labor is safely 
housed in heaven. But to return to my narrative. 

I stayed, sent out messengers, and called a 
meeting at Henry Cole's, the leader. This meet- 
ing was to be held in the midst of a hardened and 
wicked set of sinners. I had been acquainted 
with many of them ; and some had been my com- 
panions in sin. The news spread, and the house 
was crowded ; for many came out to see the won- 
der. The power of God fell upon the- congrega- 
tion. Two young men, a lad, and four or five 
women, were soon in deep distress. Some ran 
away, and others stood amazed. One poor woman, 
wife of the man who found peace the night before, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



97 



continued to cry for mercy till after midnight. 
She asked, " Can you all go away, and leave a 
poor sinner in distress ?" I was so exhausted that 
I could scarcely speak to be heard; but my heart 
was moved at such a cry. I had a degree of faith, 
and turned to her, and asked, " What do you wish 
the Lord to do for you ?" She answered, " To 
justify me," &c. I told her, I hoped the Lord 
had justified me, if she could believe it, and ex- 
horted her to look to the Lord, and praise him for 
what he had already done for her. That moment 
she rose, and shouted, "Glory to God." She held 
fast her confidence. The rest found peace when 
I came round again. 

From that time we had a gracious work in that 
neighborhood. Some persecuted ; but others " be- 
lieved, and turned to the Lord." 

Henky Smith. 



LETTEE XII. 

Dear Brother, — Saturday, the 7th of May, 
our quarterly meeting began at Front Royal. 
Brother D. Hitt, our presiding elder, was in his 
place, and also in the spirit of his work. He ex- 
horted the people to devote the afternoon to sing- 
ing and prayer. We lost no time, and began at 
James Moore's, where I stayed, and the house was 
soon crowded. The awakening power of the Lord 
7 



98 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



was made known, and four or five cried aloud for 
mercy. The Lord's people shouted aloud for joy, 
and my own soul was filled with joy unspeakable 
and full of glory. On Sunday morning we had a 
glorious season of refreshing in love-feast. Several 
professed to find the Lord, in the pardon of their 
sins. Tuesday, the 10th, in the evening, at 
Shackelford's, brother Browning preached, and I 
exhorted. The Lord was graciously present ; six 
or seven appeared to be in deep distress of soul, 
and earnestly seeking the Lord. Wednesday, the 
11th, we had a solemn time under preaching at 
the meeting-house, and a still more glorious time 
in class meeting. Two, we trusted, were justified 
by faith in Christ. Sunday, the 15th, at Stephens- 
burg, I had a solemn time ; my own soul was 
greatly blessed. This day I met three classes, 
and preached twice, and found myself stronger 
when I went to bed than when I rose in the morn- 
ing. Glory be to God for his goodness to my 
soul and body. 

" O for a thousand tongues to sing 
My great Redeemer's praise !" 

Monday, the 16th, we had a melting time at 
Middletown, and many tears were shed. Here 
the preachers had preached for some time, but 
of late could get no congregation; but now the 
people began to come out to hear a poor, noisy, 
backwoods preacher ; and many hardened sinners 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



99 



were converted, and some notorious backsliders 
were reclaimed. Tuesday, the 17th, at Sadler's, 
we had a precious time ; the society was much re- 
vived. Wednesday, the 18 th, at Haggon's, in the 
pine hills, the power of the Lord attended his 
word; many wept, some cried aloud for mercy, 
and the Lord's people were very much encouraged. 
Thursday, the 19th, at Milburn's meeting-house, 
it appeared as if the Lord were about to visit this 
old society once more. At this meeting-house I 
first received a permit to exhort from John P. 
Bruce, our presiding elder ; or rather it was en- 
joined upon me to exercise my gift in exhortation ; 
for I did not ask it, I did not expect it, or even 
desire it, and would have remonstrated against it 
if I could have spoken ; for I was so affected and 
confused that I could not speak ; I went out and 
wept much before the Lord. Twelve months 
after this, in August, 1793, license to preach was 
given me much in the same way, and in the same 
place ; and of course I felt very much interested 
for this society. 

Saturday, the 21st, I attended Mr. Otterbine's 
meeting, at Woodstock, and had a most interest- 
ing and profitable interview with the good old 
gentleman, and heard him preach to profit. I 
was called upon to preach on Saturday night, and 
again on Sunday night. While Mr. Otterbine was 
preaching one poor sinner cried out aloud, and re- 
fused to be comforted. My father and Mr, O. 



100 



RECOLLECTIOKS OF 



were quite intimate. The old saint used to put 
up at our house when he passed that way. He 
always treated me with great kindness, and I was 
much edified by his conversation. Tuesday, the 
24th, at John ScarfF's, we had a precious time, 
although I got there after the time appointed— 
a thing that always did afflict my mind; but I 
had a long ride that morning. I preached again 
at H. Coe's at night; it rained, but we had a 
crowd of sinners — some drunk. I preached with 
liberty, and in my zeal said the Lord would 
convert some one there that night. We labored 
on awhile, but the power of darkness was great, 
and some disposed to be disorderly. So I dis- 
missed the congregation, retired into another room, 
and threw myself on a bed, quite exhausted, and 
wept on account of the wickedness of the people, 
and also my rashness in predicting that the Lord 
would convert some soul there that night. All 
was silence in the room where the meeting had 
been held, and I thought the people were gone ; 
but when I came out, I found twelve or fifteen 
still there, and in tears. I spoke a few words, 
sung, and prayed again, and the Lord shed his 
Holy Spirit upon us. Some cried out aloud to the 
Lord to have mercy upon them, and I hope four 
or five were soundly converted. In this place, 
and in several other places, Satan was dreadfully 
enraged, and I was often threatened by the wick- 
ed. Here they threatened to bring whisky, and, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



101 



if I would not drink, they would funnel me, and 
make me drunk, &c. ; but none of their threats 
were ever executed. Some were absolutely afraid 
of me, and said, " He has been to the west, where 
he learned the art of knocking them down ; for 
until he came home there was none of it." I 
preached at my father's one Sunday afternoon : 
the house was crowded: a blooming gay young 
lady came in, and took a seat near where I stood. 
Her smiling countenance seemed to say, I am 
proof against your art. I thought, Perhaps you 
may weep before I am done. I had not got near 
through my sermon before she trembled, and fell 
off her seat, and cried to God for mercy. She 
found peace, and went home rejoicing. The con- 
gregation was much alarmed ; some pushed for 
the door, others stood trembling, and those that 
were out of doors looked frightened. I had now 
got once round my circuit, and, thank the Lord, 
in every place the holy fire was either burning or 
began to kindle. 

June 24th, I preached at Mr. Clark's, in a 
place they call Poverty Hollow, and we had a 
powerful time. The Lord was in his word, and 
it went to the hearts of many. I never saw peo- 
ple more affected under preaching ; some could 
hardly refrain from crying out. I went among 
them, and spoke to all that were in my way. One 
poor sinner was dreadfully offended, and said, " I 
do not want you to talk to me." He said, after he 



102 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



went out, he never would come to hear me preach 
again, but was there again that day four weeks, 
and got powerfully awakened, and turned to the 
Lord. I noted in my journal, " A pleasing pros- 
pect of a revival has appeared in this place, and 
I hope we shall see good days." Indeed, we did, 
and many were added to the Lord. 

Sunday, 29th of May, I preached at Front 
Eoyal. It being a rainy day, we had no great 
congregation, but a very solemn time. I met the 
class, giving an invitation to those who wished to 
serve God to stay among us. And ten or twelve 
did so. After I had spoken to the class, I opened 
the door to receive members into society, but none 
seemed disposed to join. I then proposed pray- 
ing for those who were mourning to know the 
love of God. Eight or ten came forward, and we 
joined in prayer. One woman presently began to 
rejoice. I then turned to those who were still 
crying for mercy, and exhorted them to pray 
mightily, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to 
the saving of their souls. One did not come for- 
ward, but wrestled in a corner of the house in 
mighty prayer. One of the friends found him out, 
and went to him, and brought him to where the 
rest were. He fell down upon his kness, and 
cried aloud for mercy. I exhorted him to believe 
in Jesus Christ, and, glory be to God ! it was but 
a little time before he rose, shouting God's praise ; 
and presently, another, and then another ; so that 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



103 



within a little while six were delivered from guilt 
and wo. One poor young man still remained in 
great distress, refusing to be comforted till God deli- 
vered him from the power of guilt and sin. I sel- 
dom saw so great a time of God's converting power. 
The old members seemed all alive. One poor 
woman, who had been a member some years be- 
fore, was now powerfully reclaimed, and could 
shout the praise of God aloud, which she never 
did before. I got up on a bench, and inquired if 
there were any that wished to join now. Nine 
came forward, and joined freely. Monday night 
we had a meeting in town again, and the Lord 
was present in his convincing and convicting 
power. Many cried out aloud, and others were 
filled with peace and love. 

July 10th, at Winchester, I met the men's class 
about sunrise ; baptized an adult, and met wo- 
men's class at half-past eight o'clock; preached 
with some enlargement of heart at 11 o'clock; 
and rode five miles to Milburn's, and preached at 
3 o'clock. The word of the Lord was spirit and 
life. One shouted aloud, which startled many. 
I met the white class, and then a number of the 
colored people ; and was not without hope that 
we should have a revival there also. This was a 
hard day's work. I noted in my journal, O that 
I had more faith and humble love ! When I view 
myself in the gospel glass, I see a thousand defects. 
O that I may yet be a right down Christian !" 



104 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Sunday, 17, I preached at Crum's. O how I 
felt for poor sinners I I think some feit the word. 
But after calling to mind w^hat I had said; I felt 
little and mean, and concluded, Surely the Lord 
hides my weakness and ignorance from the people, 
or they would not hear with so much interest. 
This brother Crum was a German preacher, and 
a neighbor of ours. His religious experience was 
a little singular. When under strong conviction, 
he went to a quarterly meeting, I think at Mil- 
burn's, where there w^as a gracious work. Some 
got converted. He said, " I prayed in Dutch ; I 
am Dutch ; and must get converted in Dutch. 
These are all English people, and they got con- 
verted in English. I prayed, and prayed in Dutch ; 
but could not get the blessing. At last I felt 
willing to get converted, in English or Dutch, as 
the Lord pleased. Then the blessing came, and I 
got converted in English." I have heard him tell 
it in Ms way in love-feast to good effect. 

Monday, the 18th, I was requested to visit a 
sick man, who had been educated in the Eoman 
Catholic faith. He was very candid in confessing 
his sins; but I had no power to grant him absolu- 
tion ; yet I could point him to Christ, who alone 
can forgive sins^ and pray for him. Fifteen or 
twenty persons came together, as though they ex- 
pected to see a miracle, to whom I spoke in the 
name of the Lord. The word took hold of them, 
and they "wept bitterly." The man got well; but 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



105 



sick>bed repentance seldom comes to much. I 
afterward found him at quarterly meeting drunk, 
though he still believed he was restored to health 
in answer to prayer. I frightened him, and he 
soon went off. 

In my narrative I have followed my journal 
pretty closely, after I came to Winchester circuit ; 
which to me is profitable, for it rekindles in my 
breast some of the fire of youth, and revives the 
zeal of former days. I find the spirit still willing; 
but, alas 1 the flesh is weak. To your readers 
these long extracts cannot be so interesting ; and 
as I wi&h to benefit others, I shall be more 
sparing in them. 

I began to talk to our people about having a 
camp meeting. Some said, "It may do in the 
west, but it won't do here." Our females said, 
" What ! sleep in the woods : that will never do.*' 
Our quarterly meeting began at the White House, 
head of Bullskin. I got a fev/ young men to join 
me ; and took my father's wagon, and some bed- 
ding, and camped near the meeting-house. A few 
families camped with us, in the same way. On 
Saturday, brother Hitt and brother Roszel both 
preached, and the Spirit of the Lord attended the 
word, and we had a gracious time. Some souls 
were converted. Sunday morning, the 14th, we 
had a great crowd; so we had an open sacrament, 
and the Lord was with us indeed. Brother Ros- 
zel preached in the house, and brother Hitt under 



106 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



the shade near the spring. I suppose there were 
two thousand people present. The work broke 
out. and went on in a most glorious manner, at the 
stand. We had preaching again at night, and not 
in vain ; for the power of the Lord was present to 
wound and to heal. Monday, 15th, we had prayer 
meeting at sunrise, and one young man was pow- 
erfully converted. About ten o'clock we had two 
sermons, and the word was quick and powerful, 
sharper than a two-edged sword, and went to the 
hearts of the people. We continued our meeting 
until Tuesday evening ; and we must have had 
twenty or twenty-five converts, and a number 
under conviction. 

I ventured to make a trial of introducing camp 
meetings, selected a piece of ground near Shack- 
elford's meeting-house, and began on Saturday, 
August the 17th. I opened the meeting, and we 
had a very fine beginning. Though we could raise 
but two tents, and a few wagons, we had a large 
congregation. At night we had the shout of a 
King in our camp. Sunday morning we had a most 
refreshing season at the sacrament. Mr. Dawson, 
a Baptist minister, from Richmond, whose wife 
was a Methodist, and Doctor Tilden, preached at 
eleven o'clock. The word had its convincing and 
awakening influence on the congregation, and many 
felt the force of divine truth. A multitude were 
present, and there was some disorder on the out- 
skirts of the congregation. A wicked young man 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



10,7 



came there half drunk, and brought a jug of whisky 
with him, and hid it in the woods ; but while he was 
looking for his companions in the congregation, to 
go and help him drink it, he was powerfully ar- 
rested by the Spirit of God. He wept bitterly, 
and cried aloud, "What shall I do to be saved?" 
He confessed his sins openly, and told all about 
the jug and whisky. A poor woman got powerfully 
converted, and praised the Lord aloud ; but her 
husband was much offended, and roared round the 
congregation like a fiend. He forced his wife away, 
swearing what he would do when he got her home, 
she continuing to shout " Glory to God !" Before 
they got out of hearing, she fell upon her knees, 
and begged him, with many tears, to let her go 
back. He got more enraged, and fell upon her, 
and beat her unmercifully. She continued to pray 
for him ; and he burst into tears, dropped his stick, 
and wept aloud. Although he had repeatedly 
sworn that she should never go to a Methodist 
meeting again, he now told her she might go when 
she pleased. I saw her the following Thursday, 
still rejoicing. 

Henry Sivhth. 



108 



RECOLLECTIONS OP 



LETTER XIII. 

Dear Brother^ — Our success at our bush 
meeting, called a camp meeting, was not equal to 
our expectation, though there was a great awaken- 
ing among the people. We had only four or five 
converted. It lasted only three days. Poor as 
the sample of camp meeting was, it interested our 
members very much ; and prepared the way for 
a better turn out, and greater success, the follow- 
ing August. 

Saturday, November 26, at the particular re- 
quest of brother Hitt, I attended a quarterly 
meeting in Leesburg. It was an interesting 
meeting, indeed. About forty souls professed con- 
version, and some were renewed in love. It was 
a glorious meeting. My voice, which had never 
entirely failed me before, gave way at this blessed 
meeting. I had often been hoarse from cold or 
excessive labor, to a certain degree ; but here I 
imposed upon my voice, and it failed almost sud- 
denly ; and has often failed since. 

Dec. 24, I preached at Haggon's, and again at 
night at Groves'. One cried for mercy, and some 
others were very much affected. I rode four 
miles to Winchester that night ; and held a prayer 
meeting at five o'clock on Christmas morning, in a 
school-house. It was a precious meeting. We 
had several mourners. Among the rest, I noticed 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



109 



a little white-headed boy, in deep distress, weeping 
and praying for life. When his father was made 
acquainted with his case he was soon by his side, 
and fell down upon his knees, and spread his 
hands over him, and cried, " Lord, bless my child ; 
O Lord, bless my child!" Methinks I yet see 
and hear him. The Lord heard a father's prayer ; 
the child was soon converted, and began to rejoice. 
That little boy was William Walls, afterward Dr. 
Walls, of Baltimore, but long since with God ; for 
William endured to the end, though through much 
affliction. 

Friday, February 12, 1804, our quarterly meet- 
ing began in Winchester, and we had a glorious 
time. Sunday morning, in love-feast, we had a 
shower of heavenly grace. Many came up to the 
altar to be prayed for, and five or six found 
peace. 

Monday, Feb. 15, in the afternoon, we had a 
prayer meeting at brother Samuel Calvert's. 
During the meeting sister Browning, wife of my 
colleague, was called upon to pray. She was 
much in the spirit of the work, gifted and spiritual 
in prayer. 0 that all the preachers' wives could 
pray and labor as did Becky Browning ! Then 
they would be helpmeets indeed. She prayed 
expressly for brother Calvert's children. Polly 
soon cried out, and Milly was brought under strong 
conviction. Polly was converted at that meeting ; 
and afterward became the wife of the Rev. S. G. 



110 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Eoszel, and is the motlier of two gifted itinerant 
preachers. May God bless them. The father 
has recently been called from the walls of our 
Zion, but he has left two sons on them. May 
their silver trumpets always " give a certain sound 
and may they blow them as long and as success- 
fully as did their father. Amen. Our quarterly 
meeting resulted in the conversion of about thirty 
souls. Twenty were received on trial in Win- 
chester. 

Brother Hitt pressed me to go with him to a 
quarterly meeting at Major Yanmeter's, on the 
south branch of Potomac. It began on Saturday, 
18th of February. The melting power of the 
Lord came down upon us, and we sat as in hea- 
venly places. Many were in tears, and others 
were full of joy. Sunday morning we had the 
most tender and weeping love-feast I ever had 
been in. All wept ; some for joy, others for sor- 
row. Some of the young converts spoke delight- 
fully. Brother Hitt preached us a very profitable 
sermon, on faith. I followed him with another 
sermon ; and, although I had no great liberty, the 
Lord sent his word to the hearts of the people, 
and nearly the whole congregation were in tears 
from the beginning to the end ; and many were 
graciously wrought upon by the Spirit of God. 
That night we had an overwhelming time. Some 
were happily converted. But Monday was the 
great day of the feast. Eight came forwai^d and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



Ill 



were admitted on trial, all the fruits of that happy- 
meeting. I never saw people more serious and 
well-behaved at any meeting than at this. It was 
the more remarkable, as crying out and falling 
down was rather a new thing in that place. 

We labored on in great harmony and prosperity 
to the close of the year. We had an addition of 
about three hundred to the society, and also li- 
censed two young preachers ; namely, Simon Lauk 
and Joseph Carson. Both entered the itinerant 
work afterward, and I believe are still in it. I 
might have noticed many remarkable occurrences ; 
but am quite tired of writing, and fear many of your 
readers are tired of reading. I had intended to 
bring down my narrative to Baltimore circuit in 
1806, where I became acquainted with many of the 
first-fruits of Methodism in the county and city. I 
had intended to take notice of some of them, their 
religious experience, their zeal, their Christian 
simplicity, and disinterested devotedness to the 
cause of God, &c., &c. 

I am fully convinced that Baltimore alone de- 
serves a long sketch of the rise and progress of 
Methodism there. For what city has presented a 
fairer sample of primitive Methodism than Balti- 
more ; but who will undertake the work ? You, 
my dear doctor, are the only person now living 
that can do it. You were personally acquainted 
with the members of the first class, and some of 
them for many years. But, alas ! you are already 



112 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



overwhelmed with more business than you can 
do ; and I despair of ever seeing it done. 

The infirmities of more than seventy-two 
years are upon me. Although I read and write 
without glasses, my left eye has greatly failed, and 
I am getting very near sighted ; but my heart is 
fixed, trusting in the Lord. I had intended to 
close with a long letter to Bishop Asbury respect- 
ing my own experience, and the bishop's answer, 
in 1806. And now, dear doctor, I am more than 
ever your affectionate and obliged friend and 
brother, Henry Smith. 



Note. — The letter to Bishop Asbury, and his answer, to 
which reference is made in the preceding letter, were for- 
warded for publication in the Christian Advocate and Journal, 
in a separate communication. It has been judged advisable to 
insert them here. 

TO BISHOP ASBURY. 

Baltimore dr., July Atli^ 1806. 
Rey. and Dear Sir, — I have, for better than 
six weeks, at different times, felt a desire to write 
to you, but was discouraged, from the considera- 
tion that I had nothing of importance to write, 
respecting myself or my circuit. Three weeks 
ago I received a special blessing, and with it my 
desire to write was renewed ; and, after .making it 
a matter of earnest prayer, I yield to the impres- 
sion. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



118 



About sixteen years ago the Lord had mercy on 
me, a poor sinner^ and I believed myself justified 
freely through the redemption that is in Jesus. For 
better than twelve years I have feebly preached the 
glorious doctrine of entire sanctification to others, 
while I remained a stranger (in part) to it myself ; 
exhorted others to be holy in heart, while I my- 
self was unholy. I have at different times been 
under such conviction for entire sanctification 
that my life was rather unhappy. In the year 
1798, while I rode in Salt River circuit, Ken- 
tucky, I had such a discovery of the deceitfulness 
and wickedness of my heart that I doubted 
whether I had ever been justified. My doubts 
brought me into darkness, yea, into a kind of 
despair. I sought to lay again the foundation of 
repentance, but sought in vain. After some 
weeks' deep distress the Lord restored unto me 
the light of his countenance, and the joy of his sal- 
vation. I regained my confidence, and there I rest- 
ed too well satisfied. In 1800, the first year I tra- 
veled on Sciota circuit. North-western Territory, 
I read many bright Christian experiences in the 
British magazines, and read also the sixth volume 
of Fletcher's Checks. I plainly saw I was greatly 
wanting, and my soul was again stirred up to be- 
come a whole Christian. But, alas, I was again 
brought into the same uncomfortable state of mind ! 
Is it not strange, that after all that I had read, 
heard, and preached, on sanctification, I should 
8 



114 



EECOLLECTIONS OF 



remain so ignorant of the nature of eonviction for 
it, as to let go my confidence ? — yea, renounce my 
justification, which is the very foundation of en- 
tire sanctification ? While on this circuit I was 
very much afilicted, and twice brought to death's 
door ; I then had a strong confidence in God, a 
clear evidence of my acceptance, and a hope full 
of glory. I never before had such a view of the 
nature of faith, '•Faith" was, indeed, "the sub- 
stance of things hoped for, and the evidence of 
things not seen," to me. I do not recollect that I 
felt any conviction for sanctification, or any con- 
cern about it. My soul was unspeakably happy. 
When I got better, I again felt the remains of 
indwelling sin. The first year (1803) I rode in 
Winchester circuit, my soul was so much alive to 
God, and in the spirit of his work, that I some- 
times thought I enjoyed perfect love. But, ah, 
how secretly and securely did pride, self-will, 
vanity, and many other hurtful desires, and un- 
holy things, lurk within me! The last year I 
traveled in Winchester circuit (in 1804) I was 
again brought to the gates of death. The first 
few weeks of my illness I dosed away, without 
being able to think much about God, or my soul. 
But when this stupor left me, I cried mightily to 
God, and I am sure the Lord heard me ; for he 
broke in upon my soul in a most glorious manner^ 
and every fear of death was gone, and I had a 
confidence that God would take me to heaven^ 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 115 

should I die. And yet I am now sure that I 
was not at that time wholly sanctified; for I 
was wanting in patience and perfect resignation. 
My mind for some years has been variously and 
strangely exercised ; sometimes all athirst for 
God and holiness, and then again by far too slack, 
even in my external duties. But in general I 
wished, yea strove, to be a Christian indeed. 
Sometimes the doctrine of holiness was the food 
and life of my soul ; and then again I would have 
little or no relish for it, yea, was tempted to 
disbelieve it, especially when strenuously insisted 
upon by those who were, like myself, destitute of an 
experimental knowledge of it. I was sometimes 
tempted against those who professed it, and at 
other times almost idolized those who I believed 
enjoyed the blessing. In general I abhorred and 
despised myself, and sometimes thought others 
viewed me in the same light that I did myself, 
and despised me too, which made me quite un- 
happy. And then I would again feel envy, pride, 
and resentment. I came to our last quarterly 
conference with great reluctance. My concern 
for entire sanctification was not so great as it had 
been. But, under the preaching of Bishop What- 
coat, on sanctification, my heart was tendered, and 
I viewed myself in the gospel glass. And, O, 
what a vile, unprofitable, unholy wretch I saw 
myself ! When you, sir, was enforcing the neces- 
sity of preaching sanctification, " not in a common- 



116 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



place way, but to feel the importance of the sub- 
ject," it sunk deep into my heart, for I knew that I 
had been guilty of preaching sanctification merely 
because it was in my creed. I resolved, once more^ 
to be all for God ; and if such a blessing as perfect 
love was to be found this side of death, by grace I 
was determined to find it. I sometimes thought 
that I was so mean, unprofitable, and prone to 
backslidings in heart, that the Lord would not in- 
trust me with such a blessing. Under these im- 
pressions I came to my circuit. I had for years 
been out of the habit of regular fasting, on account 
of bodily weakness, but now resolved to take it up 
again, and fast at least one day in the week. 
I found it a great cross at first. I determined 
to make holiness a subject of conversation out of 
the pulpit, as well as in it. I intended to seek 
after, and find it, and converse freely with the 
most experienced Christians. Shortly after I came 
on the circuit I met with brother Wm. Lynch and 
sister Carnon : both professed perfect love, and 
I felt as if I had found hid treasure. In conver- 
sation with them my mind was more enlightened, 
and my heart was more enlarged, and for some 
moments I viewed the blessing nigh ; but some- 
thing within said, Not now : unbelief prevailed, and 
shame overcame me, and I went away sorrowful. 
All the remaining corruptions of my nature were 
about this time stirred up. I felt the remains of 
anger, pride, the love of the world, a desire of 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



117 



praise, envy, peevishness, &c. My prayer was, to 
know the very worst of my heart, and the Lord 
unfolded its secret wickedness in such a manner 
that I was astonished, and became at times rather 
unhappy, particularly on my fast days. I do 
know that I was not in a state of condemnation, 
or afraid of hell ; but my greatest sorrow and dis- 
tress were, that I did not love the Lord with all 
my heart, and was prone to wander from the God 
I loved. I found it 

" Worse than death my God to love, 
And not my God alone." 

I felt great power in prayer for a clean heart. My 
soul was in a struggle, sometimes in an agony, for 
the blessing. I went to the Severn camp meet- 
ing, May 21, in hopes of getting the blessing. 
Several professed to be sanctified wholly. I spoke 
to some who were in distress for the blessing, but 
when I thought of myself I was shut up ; at least I 
could not speak to them in faith. It was truly a 
time of the power of God, and a profitable meet- 
ing to me. When I returned I found myself 
much refreshed, and alive to God. The first 
Sunday in June was a sorrowful day to me, 
especially in the afternoon. Monday was another 
cloudy day ; I deeply mourned, and felt the need 
of solid and lasting comfort, and thirsted for closer 
communion with God. I saw myself so empty 
and weak, that I felt as though I could not con- 



118 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



duct a prayer meeting we had that night at brother 
Carnan's, but prevailed on brother C. to open the 
meeting. So soon as I came into the house where 
the meeting was held, my soul was uncommonly 
drawn out in prayer, and I received a great hless- 
ing. From that time my heart appeared to be 
empty of sin and corruption. It did not stir within 
me as before ; indeed, I could not feel as I had 
felt. An uncommon calm possessed my soul. I 
had near access to a throne of grace, and life 
and liberty in preaching. Sunday, the 8th of 
June, after preaching, I endeavored to make 
peace between two contending brethren, (old pro- 
fessors,) and finding them so obstinate that I could 
not succeed, I was sorely grieved, and rose from 
my seat, and left them. I was afterward afraid I 
had given way to impatience, but could feel no 
condemnation. As I did not feel as I had felt, 
some fears arose that my convictions were wearing 
off, and I should not get the blessing. Neither 
could I agonize in prayer for sanctifying love as 
I had done before. I could not account for it. 
June 13. O, blessed Friday ! my fast day. My 
mind was very solemn, and mourned for constant 
communion with God. I got to my appointment 
at ten o^clock, and sat down in a room, and took 
up the Life of Mrs. Eogers, in order to spend a 
little time in looking over her experience. I 
turned to that part where she gives an account of 
her deep distress, and earnest struggle of soul for 



AN OLD ITINERANT, 



119 



sanctification, I found the travail of soul she 
passed through corresponded with my own. I 
made her petitions my own. My heart was melt- 
ed down, I plainly saw that I could make myself 
no better, and said, in my heart, If the blessing is 
obtained by faith, I never can be better prepared 
for it than I now am. The Lord is now as able 
and willing to bless me as he ever will be, I be- 
lieve that Christ is both able and willing to bless 
me now, and to bless me as I am, and to cleanse 
me from all sin now. My soul was humbled as 
in the dust, and I felt myself at the feet of Jesus, 
and viewed him with all his fullness ; and by faith 
I fully received him as my wisdom, righteousness, 
sanctification, and redemption. An uncommon 
melting power ran through my soul, and I re- 
ceived such sweet intimations from on high, that I 
was inwardly persuaded that Christ was all my 
own, and I was wholly his. Yea, I believed the 
Lord had created in me a clean heart, and renew- 
ed a right spirit within me. The solemn, ^lid 
peace, that then took possession of my soul, no 
human language can describe. It made me re- 
joice, and praise the Lord with all my heart. Yet 
I was not in great ecstasy, but in a flood of tears, 
and silent awe. I stood before that God whom 
angels adore, and, with pleasing wonder, took a 
survey of his wonderful condescension in giving his 
dear Son for me, and in revealing Christ in me 
the hope of glory. I felt less than nothing in Ms 



120 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



sight. A thought then arose, Can it be possible 
that you have received such grace ? The Lord 
mysteriously answered in my heart, and poured 
such a flood of love upon me, that I cried out, Yes, 
yes, glory be to God ! even to unworthy me, 
who am less than the least of all saints, is 
this grace given. A small congregation met for 
preaching ; but, strange to tell, I could hardly 
think of preaching. My mind was so taken up 
with what had passed, and so drawn out in prayer, 
and praise, and thanksgiving to God, that I wished 
to be alone, that I might give vent to all the feel- 
ings of my full heart, by weeping and rejoicing 
before the Lord. Such a solemn awe rested upon 
my mind that evening as I had never felt before. 
I went to rest happy — happy, solidly happy, in my 
Saviour. It far surpassed anything for sweetness 
and solemnity I had ever experienced before. 
When I rose in the morning I did not feel as I 
had done, and I fell down upon my knees, and 
cried to the Lord, and he manifested himself to 
me as he did the day before. As I rode to my 
appointment that day my heart was continually 
lifted to God in prayer and praise, and so con- 
tinued for three or four days. It was suggested 
to me. Now examine yourself, and try your graces, 
whether you are indeed sanctified. I suspected 
that it might be from the enemy, to get me to 
unprofitable reasoning, and cried out, I am yet 
too weak ; all that I have to do, yea, all that I can 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



121 



do, is to live by faith, and by faith hang upon the 
Saviour. Never did I see and feel my weakness 
so sensibly. Never did I so constantly live by 
faith ; indeed, I did not so fully know before what 
it was to live by faith ; but now I every moment 
lived by faith, and every moment felt the merits 
of Christ's death. I preached on sanctification 
that day as I had never done before, experimen- 
tally knowing the doctrine to be of God. I spoke 
what I knew, and felt what I spoke. The word 
had a happy effect ; for in meeting the class I 
found that more than half of them were under 
concern for perfect love. One woman cried aloud, 
and fell upon her knees, and was strongely agi- 
tated for some time. We then went to prayer. 
Her cry was, A clean heart." I spoke to her, 
and exhorted her to believe in the Lord Jesus 
Christ. After a short space the gloom departed 
from her countenance, and she seemed to stand as 
in amaze and silent awe ; then began to rejoice, 
and praise the Lord. I inquired if the Lord had 
granted her the desire of her heart. She answer- 
ed, Yes. My evidence was brightened that day, 
and I felt the mighty power of faith and love in 
my soul. I now began to be exercised about speak- 
ing of what the Lord had done for me. I consult- 
ed some of my friends, and they advised me to 
speak in the name of the Lord. Indeed, I some- 
times felt willing to publish it to the ends of the 
earth. I accordingly spoke a little of my ex- 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



perience in class meetings and love-feasts, but 
generally with fear and trembling, and we had 
refreshing times. Many seemed to be seeking 
holiness of heart, and some professed to be per- 
fected in love. 

After four or five days my constant joy mea- 
surably subsided, but still I retained my sweet 
peace and confidence in God. Sometimes I felt 
as if I dare not confidently say that the Lord had 
cleansed me from all sin ; and yet I durst not say 
that it was not the case. I would then say, I will 
be still, and submit it to the Lord ; I will trust in 
the Lord, and not be afraid. The enemy pursues 
me every hour in the day ; I am horrified with 
vain thoughts, and wild imaginations, unprofitable 
reasonings, and many other things. By the grace 
of God I yet stand, and I hope to stand to the end. 
I know that a great change has taken place in me. 
I now have constant peace with God, and a testi- 
mony that I please him. I read my Bible with 
greater pleasure than ever, and receive the pro- 
mises as directly given to me. O what transports 
of joy I feel in my soul when I view God, in his 
promises, speaking directly to such an unworthy 
creature as I am ! Such as these have been par- 
ticularly blessed to me : " Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in 
my name, he will give it you." " The water that 
I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, 
springing up into everlasting life." " I came that 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



128 



they might have life, and that they might have it 
more abundantly." " Whosoever will, let him 
take the water of life freely." I have power to 
love God with all my heart, and all men for his 
sake. I walk and talk as in the presence of God ; 
and if at any time I speak a word without reflec- 
tion, my soul is alarmed. Some idle words have 
given me pain, but the Lord is with me, and 
around me, continually. Christ is in me the hope 
of glory. But still I am a helpless creature; 
every moment I need fresh supplies of grace ; I 
never felt the need of Christ as I do now ; with 
him I can do and suffer a little, without him I 
can do nothing. Since I began to write this letter 
my joy has returned, and I am happy ; glory be 
to God in the highest, I am unspeakably happy. 
The half respecting perfect love has never been 
told me. O how I long for all Christians, Chris- 
tian ministers particularly, to be made partakers 
of perfect love ! When I think of the number of 
great men in our church who have great gifts, are 
exemplary in their lives, fervent in spirit, and 
successful in their ministry, who can ably defend 
the doctrine of Christian perfection, and yet do 
not profess to enjoy it themselves, I am inclined to 
fear that I may be mistaken ; but when I con- 
sider that the Lord is no respecter of persons, but 
reveals these things to those who, as it respects 
gifts and knowledge, are but babes and sucklings, 
I am encouraged to hold fast my confidence. O, 



124 RECOLLECTIONS OP 

if all our preachers enjoyed perfect love, how they 
would scatter the holy fire through cities, towns, and 
country. Our enemies themselves would be con- 
strained to call the Methodists the holy people, 
the redeemed of the Lord. The Lord grant you 
great success in stirring up the preachers to seek 
after holiness. It is all the mind that was in 
Christ Jesus ; yes, it is the spirit and marrow 
of the gospel. I may fall from my heaven of 
peace and love, and bring a reproach upon the 
good cause ; but O, how much rather I would die ! 
Please to pray for me. A line from you might be 
of singular service to me at this time. Correct 
me ; reprove me ; I may need it : I lie quite open. 
Pardon me if I intrude on your time and patience. 
I am, dear sir, very respectfully, your unworthy 
son in the gospel of Christ, 

Henry Smith, 
to rev. h. smith. 

Dr. Waiters^ Montgomery, Md., July 20, 1806. 
My Very Dear Smith, — May great grace at- 
tend you. I consent to what you say, in general. 
O, purity ! O, Christian perfection ! O, sanctifica- 
tion ! It is heaven below to feel all sin removed. 
Preach it, whether they will bear or forbear. 
Preach it. You have never experienced the 
realities of heaven or hell, but preach them. Some 
have professed it, (perfect love,) but have fallen 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



125 



from it ; others profess, but do not possess it. 
They trifle away life. They seldom use the gift 
God hath given them. I think we ought modestly 
to tell what we feel in the fullest. For two years 
past, amidst innumerable toils, I have enjoyed 
almost inexpressible sensations. Our pentecost is 
come, in some places, for sanctification. I have 
good reasons to believe that upon the Eastern 
Shore four thousand have been converted since 
the first of May last, and one thousand sanctified, 
besides souls convicted, and quickened, and re- 
stored. * * * * 

Now, I think, we congregate two millions in a 
year ; and I hope for one hundred thousand souls 
converted, convicted, restored, or sanctified. The 
whole continent is awake. I am on a route of three 
thousand miles, from and to Baltimore. Such a 
work of God, I believe, was never known, for the 
number of people. The preachers will die in 
harvest field, as it lasts all the year. I believe 
brother Whatcoat died a martyr for the work. 
Farewell in Jesus. I am still thine, 

F. ASBURY. 

I had to speak two hours to-day, and was so 
worn out I had to write to forget myself. 

F. A. 



126 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



LETTER XIV. 

Dear Brother, — Our annual conference for 
the year 1804 had been appointed in Alexandria, 
D. C. On the 24th of April, the night before I 
left my father's for conference, William Burke, 
James Quinn, and others from the west, arrived, 
on their way to the General Conference ; intending 
to reach our conference in their way. Our meet- 
ing was unexpected but joyful; for who can describe 
the satisfaction of meeting old soldiers of the cross 
who have labored and suffered together for years ! 
On the 25th we started together for conference. 

Friday, the 27th, our conference was opened. 
Bishop Asbury was with us. At this conference 
he dedicated the new Methodist church in Alex- 
andria to the service of Almighty God ; and some 
souls were converted in it during the session. "We 
had' a pleasant and harmonious session : and I 
was reappointed to Winchester circuit. Samuel 
Monnett, a probationer, was my colleague. When 
this brother's case came before the conference, for 
admission on trial, one of the preachers said, " But 
he is married." Mr. Asbury replied, " What of 
that ? perhaps he is the better for it. Better take 
preachers well married, than be at the trouble of 
marrying them after you get them." This sounded 
so strange in my ear that I never forgot it ; and 
I have thought of it a hundred times since. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



127 



And now, having such a good text, I will give 
a short comment on it, and hope that no offense 
will be taken, as I am sure none is intended : per- 
haps some one may be instructed by it. I am 
sure I do not misconstrue the author ; for, subse- 
quently, I had a free conversation with the bishop 
on this very subject, and found him very friendly 
to preachers being "well married;" and spoke 
highly of some preachers' wives. I could men- 
tion names, and can hardly refrain from it. 

Those who know me will bear witness, if need 
be, that, bachelor as I was for many years, I have 
always been a friend to preachers' wives, and 
have defended and comforted them when I thought 
they were neglected, or treated coolly by the peo- 
ple. This we have seen in gone-by days. And I 
can recollect no case where my confidence was 
weakened in a brother because he had found " a 
good thing," or was " well married." But there - 
certainly is more meaning in this thing than some 
preachers seem to be aware of. A preacher's 
wife may be intelligent, amiable in disposition, 
pious, and in other respects accomplished ; but if 
there be a want of active zeal in the cause of 
God, and a good degree of missionary spirit, itin- 
erating will be heavy work, and there may be 
trouble ahead. If the husband were a mechanic, 
a merchant, a lawyer, a doctor, a farmer, or of 
any other trade or profession, he might be said to 
be very well married. But he is a Methodist 



128 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



traveling preacher; and his wife must not only 
be a lover of souls, but be willing to go with her 
husband to any field of labor that may be assigned 
him; and with him endure hardness as a good 
soldier of Jesus Christ. She must, by her exam- 
ple, prayers, and wholesome advice, cheer his 
heart, and strengthen his hands in the good cause. 
Perhaps it so turns out that a preacher has what 
is called a hard appointment read out in confer- 
ence — and this, too, after he has applied for ac- 
commodation — he is disappointed, and labors un- 
der temptation to locate, and talks loudly about it : 
but, on reflection, finds that he is not prepared ; or, 
as an old friend, P. Moore, of Baltimore, used to 
say, " he cannot afford it." If his wife in this 
dark and cloudy day should say, " Surely the 
bishop and his council do not know you. They do 
not know how to appreciate your talents and worth, 
or they would not have given you such an appoint- 
ment : they mean to drive you out of the work, 
and I would not go to the appointment. Let them 
keep their circuit, or small station, or give it to 
some one else. Indeed, I cannot go to that place." 
This would be dreadful advice from an itinerant 
preacher's wife to her husband. Perhaps, the 
poor fellow pursues the bishop, and harasses him 
for a change of appointment. The bishop yields, 
and makes a change. The brother who was ousted 
from his place is not so well pleased, and says — 
and he feels what he says — " I would not have had 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



129 



the least objection to going to that place, if I had 
been first appointed there ; but I do not like to 
accommodate that brother, and his proud and dis- 
satisfied wife, and bad children," There is no 
just cause for complaint of the circuit ; unpleasant 
feelings are excited between the two preachers 
and their families. All this we have seen and 
heard. 

The brother, who has so grievously afflicted 
himself, goes to his new appointment ; the society 
become acquainted with the whole circumstance, 
and the reason why this brother is sent to them ; 
and they, in their turn, are not so well pleased ; 
for no circuit or station likes to be made a place 
of mere convenience^ or a stepping stone to some 
other business; and his way to usefulness is hedged 
up. Or, perhaps he repents, and after a long time 
goes to his first appointment ; but with a sour, dis- 
satisfied mind. Alas ! the news reaches the circuit 
long before he arrives : the people have been dis- 
appointed, week after week, and do not feel very 
pleasant about it ; for people will feel when they 
are slighted or thought meanly of by their preach- 
ers. He meets with a cool reception, his wife's 
pride is mortified, and he drags along heavily the 
whole year ; is in trouble all the while, and so are 
the people of his charge. Now if his wife is the 
cause of all, or half, of this trouble, he is not " well 
married" for a Methodist preacher. . . . But the 
man that is well married hears his pious wife say, 
9 



130 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Come, my dear husband, let us go. Others 
have been there, and have come away alive ; at 
at any rate, they were not starved to death. Let 
us go in the name of the Lord ; for if we do not 
go, some one else will have to go ; and how much 
better are we than those who have been there be- 
fore us ? After all, we shall enter into other 
men's labors, made ready to our hands. Come, 
I am with you, in weal and in wo ; and what is 
still better, your Master tells you, ' Lo, I am with 
you alway, even to the end of the world.' Let us be 
off as soon as possible ; and the people will give 
us a more cordial welcome. Let us go, and do 
our duty, and always ' follow that which is good,' 
and ' we shall want no good thing. Our bread 
shall be given us, and our water shall be sure.' 
Let us do the best we can. We can use a little 
economy, and if we do not fare quite so well as we 
have done, or might do, in some other places, we 
can make out to get along. We can live ivell 
enough upon a small income ; (I have known some 
preachers' wives who could do this.) If you can 
but be an instrument in winning souls to Christ, 
and building up the church in their most holy 
faith, we shall have our reward in this world, and 
a still higher reward in the world to come. Let 
us go in the strength of grace ; and, as we go, let 
us sing, — 

*• The birds, without barn or storehouse, are fed ; 
From them let us learn to trust for our bread ; 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



131 



His saints what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied, 
So long as 'tis written, The Lord will provide.' " 

A preacher that has such a wife is very " well 
married." When they come among the people of 
their charge, she is careful and friendly with them, 
and shows them at once that she has not come 
among them to be a mere do -nothing lady, but a 
pattern to the flock, and a true help-meet to her 
husband in the work of the Lord. Perhaps they 
may find no parsonage, and there is a house to 
rent. It may not be so good as the one she was 
born and raised in, perhaps better ; but no matter, 
she does not complain or find fault. Her good 
sense tells her that is not the way to better her 
condition. She considers that her circumstances 
are changed by her own choice, in becoming a 
traveling preacher's wife. She makes the best of 
everything. Though she may not have been ac- 
customed to " rough it," as we sometimes say, if it 
be necessary she learns how to do it. She con- 
siders their income, and makes her arrangements 
to live accordingly. She keeps her house neat, 
and has everything in its place ; and what little 
furniture they have she arranges to the best ad- 
vantage. She gets along with as few hirelings, or 
servants, as possible ; and, if need be, attends to 
her own children. But if there be a parsonage 
and furniture, she takes good care of everything 
as if it were her own, perhaps more so ; and takes 
pleasure in leaving the house and everything in 



132 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



better order than she found it. The stewards are 
delighted ; and give her great credit, and do every- 
thing they can to make her comfortable. Her hus- 
band is almost proud of his economical and excel- 
lent wife. Her children rise to bless her ; for she 
does not bring them up in ignorance and idleness, 
with high notions of their consequence. Surely 
such a brother is ^" well married," and can get 
along anywhere. As the education and govern- 
ment of children devolve principally upon an itine- 
rant preacher's wife, she takes good care to begin 
in time, and brings up her family in the fear of the 
Lord. She does not feed their pride by gaudy or 
costly apparel. If she is at any time thrown into 
wealthy families, who dress their children in all 
the frippery and finery of the world, she has good 
sense and grace enough to know that she is a 
Methodist preacher's wife, and mother of his chil- 
dren ; and she knows, too, that if there were no 
harm in all this finery and display, their circum- 
stances will not admit of it, for they must not go 
in debt for unnecessary things. She trains her 
children well, and has them in good subjection. 
Her word is their law, and they obey from affec- 
tion as well as fear. When the husband and wife 
take their children with them on a visit to their 
friends, every one takes notice of them, and is con- 
strained to say, " What good children these are ! 
What little trouble their parents have with them ! 
How affectionate and obedient they are I Their 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



133 



parents or others are not obliged to be constantly 
after them, to keep them out of mischief." She is 
everywhere welcome with her little train; and 
people are always delighted to see them. Such 
a brother is "well married." He and his wife 
and children will be respected and beloved every- 
where. When her husband comes home to bless 
his family, if he finds his wife in tears, they are 
tears of joy. She does not pain his heart with 
upbraidings for staying away so long, or burden 
his mind with unnecessary complaints. She knows 
that he has been well employed. She makes his 
home his earthly paradise. Happy brother ! for 
he is " well married." 

When the time comes for him to leave his happy 
home again, she makes the parting as easy as possi- 
ble ; and when she finds him inclined to linger, and 
disposed to frame excuses, because he is not quite 
so tvell, or one of the children has a bad cold, or 
his beloved vrife is somewhat indisposed, she urges 
him to go, by saying, " The Lord will take care of 
us, my dear husband. Your Master's business 
calls you. The Avork is sacred, and must not be 
neglected. Be punctual ; and the people will have 
confidence in you, and you will be the more useful 
among them. Your standing as a faithful pastor 
and our interests are both concerned ; for if you 
serve the people faithfully, they will the more 
cheerfully and amply provide for your wife and 
children. Go, thou blessed of the Lord; my pray- 



134 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ers attend you bj day and by night. Bring me 
good news from Zion when you return ; for such 
news always cheers my heart, and revives my 
spirits. It supports me under my privations and 
trials, and sweetens all my toils and cares." The 
preacher that has such a wife has 2i fortune in her ^ 
and is ^^well married." Two years roll swiftly 
and sweetly away, and the conference draws nigh, 
and this lovely family must be removed. The 
society and neighbors are all sorry. The parting 
is truly affecting. They send many prayers to 
heaven for them, and many good wishes attend 
them. A good report follows them to conference ; 
yea, goes before them to their next field of labor. 

A brother from another circuit says to one of 
the stewards, '^So your preacher, with his large 
family, is gone. You must have had a heavy bur- 
den for the last two years." ^' Burden," replies 
the steward, " we should like to have such another 
burden. O such a wife, such a family, we never 
had ! She has done almost as much good as her 
husband. Come and see the parsonage, how nice 
she has left everjrthing. We never found it so 
easy to raise supplies for the preacher's family. 
The expenses of the circuit are all met; and 
we have sent on such an amount of missionary 
money ; and we have had a good increase in the 
membership. Everything is left in fine order." 

suppose," says the brother, ^*he dunned the 
people all the year for money." Is ot he, indeed ; 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



135 



he said but little about it. He went forward and 
did his duty, and the people did theirs." Hail, 
happy brother ! You are most judiciously and 
most delightfully married, and need not be afraid 
of any hard or poor circuit ; for if you find it so, 
you will always leave it much improved. 

When a man with a family has been offered to 
conference for admission on trial, one that is al- 
ready an acceptable minister of Jesus Christ, I 
have more than once thought, if he is " well mar- 
ried" we had better take him, for there may be 
some risk in getting a young man married. When 
it has been reported in conference cnat such a 
brother has taken to himself a wife, I have thought 
if he is " well married " all is well ; if not, trouble 
may be ahead ; for after the " honey months" are 
over, trouble may come upon two, if no more, 
hearts. 

Now, my dear doctor, I declare to you, that I 
have taken more pains with this piece, and have 
prayed more, also shed more tears over it, than 
any former communication ; and, after all, it may 
not be admissible ; and, if admitted, may not be 
useful. But if you think it may do good, drop me 
a word, and you shall have the balance of my 
comment on the bishop's text, to wit ; " Be at the 
trouble to marry them." Henry Smith. 

We indorse it all, brother Smith. Go ahead. — 
Ed. of CL Ad. 4- J. 



136 RECOLLECTIONS OF 



LETTER XV. 

Dear Brother, — I now send you further 
thoughts on Bishop Asbury's text. The subject 
is a delicate one, I know ; and I have approached 
it with humility and fear. But as I have such a 
strong indorser, I will proceed. You know, as 
well as others, that these things " have not been 
done in a corner," and may be done again. " Be 
at the trouble to marry theraJ^ 

We take up a young, inexperienced man, and 
admit him on trial, with the expectation that he 
will lay aside the spirit and study of the world, and 
devote himself wholly to his religious studies, and 
the work of the ministry, to which he solemnly 
professes to be called. But the first or second 
circuit he goes to, he seems to forget his solemn 
pledge, and enters prematurely into matrimonial 
engagements, and fills the circuit with more talk 
about his courtship than his usefulness, or the 
number of souls converted through his instrumen- 
tality. This may afford some amusement to the 
young and chaffy professors, but it rolls trouble 
upon the hearts of the more serious and zealous 
of the fiock of Christ, over which he is made an 
overseer, and thus ends his call to itinerate ; for he 
drives down his stake, and enters into other business. 
No matter whether he was taken from the plough, 
the shop, or the college ; his itinerant work is 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



187 



done. Better take one well made, well married, 
laborious, enterprising minister of Jesus Christ, 
than half a dozen such fickle-minded boys. 

But another, before he is known in conference 
as a member, pledges himself to some pious female. 
It is true he does not intend to consummate his 
engagement until after he shall have traveled 
three, or even four, years ; as though he were 
afraid that aU the good sisters would be married or 
dead in four years, and it was necessary for him 
to secure one in time. So the thing passes on 
for the present, though, perhaps, not without some 
trouble. But when he sees a little more of the 
world, and also sees many more pretty faces, 
and gets a little better informed, and still better 
brushed up, he may think that his first choice was 
not the most judicious ; or his first love may grow 
cold, and he sees one that he thinks he loves bet- 
ter. Perhaps she has more money ; and he v^ishes 
to dissolve his first contract, or even denies it, and 
says he was jesting. Here is trouble in two fami- 
lies, and also in two circuits, preachers and all ; 
and more trouble at conference. "Better take 
one that is well married," than be at all this trou- 
ble with one that never was, and perhaps never 
will be, of much service to the church, married or 
single. 

We will give another case. A young brother 
conducts himself prudently and honorably, and 
takes to himself a wife out of a worthy family. 



188 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



She is young and delicate ; and as he has traveled 
three, or even four, years as a single man, and also 
traveled one very hard circuit, (we will say that 
very hard circuit lies in the Baltimore Conference,) 
may he not now expect accommodation ; especially 
as he has a very delicate wife, and she has never 
been far or long away from her mother ? It may 
so happen that there are one or two circuits, or 
stations, quite convenient, and either would be the 
very thing. And why may he not expect to be 
favored, as he has traveled four long years, and 
one very hard circuit, and now has a very tender 
wife, that has never been accustomed to hardships ? 
He has confidence enough to expect it, and his 
wife and all the family, down to third cousins, ex- 
pect accommodation for the newly married couple. 
Surely the bishop and his council cannot be so 
cruel as to send them far away, for they are all 
married men, and can sympathize with one that 
has traveled four years, and one hard circuit 
where he suffered a great deal. Conference pro- 
gresses ; accommodation is sought for, as well as 
expected ; some forebodings of trouble are felt at 
times. At last the appointments are given, and 
one disappointment, at least, is read out, and trou- 
ble comes. Now much of this trouble might be 
avoided, if "preachers did not marry children, 
or children marry children," as the bishop once 
said to me. 

I will state another case, still more distressing, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



139 



and no fiction either. A young man slides along, 
passes his examinations, is admitted, elected, and 
ordained deacon, and then graduates to the office 
of an elder. But, alas ! he too soon forgets him- 
self, and his high and holy calling, and has his mind 
more filled with thoughts about getting a wife than 
anything else, and out of the abundance of the 
heart the mouth spealceth. He lets down his min- 
isterial dignity, and gets to trifling with the feel- 
ings of credulous and unsuspicious females, and 
the kind families who hospitably entertain him as 
a messenger sent from God : for who would not 
believe that a minister is sincere in his professions ? 
Having this advantage he soon entangles the af- 
fections of two or three, perhaps more, innocent 
females, and stands committed to each of them. 
All are sincere, and in earnest, but the poor tri- 
fling preacher, and he is only jesting. He can 
marry but one, and that one is to be pitied. The 
whole affair comes out before the world, and there 
is lamentation and wo in the church; sinners 
laugh, but Zion mourns ; and the lame are turned 
out of the way. Charges are preferred to confer- 
ence, and he rolls trouble upon many hearts. Aged 
brethren have their feelings put to the rack, and 
are almost out of all patience. Younger ministers 
are disgusted, and feel themselves reproached by 
the conduct of an unworthy brother, who, after all, 
may have mistaken his call, or shamefully back- 
slidden from God. Conference refers his case to 



140 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



a committee; they sit hour after hour, and pa- 
tiently hear and examine testimony on all sides, 
and bring in their report. But one, and then 
another, is dissatisfied with the report ; they talk, 
and talk on, (for some men love to talk,) until the 
report is set aside, and the whole testimony, love 
letters and all, is brought before the conference. 
Here one hundred or more grave men are under 
the painful necessity of sitting hour after hour, if 
not day after day, to hear trash, and speech after 
speech upon it. Is there then no trouble in getting 
some preachers married? Better take one that 
is well married already, than have all this trouble. 
The conference is in session a day or two longer 
than would have been the case, and other import- 
ant business is passed over. Bad as his cause 
may be, he still finds some advocates in conference, 
who talk loudly of justice, and a fair trial, and 
some insinuate, that he was courted^ or taken 
in, &c. They seem to lose sight of the distress 
and reproach in one or two circuits, and the 
scores that are bleeding there ; and thus sympa- 
thy is waked up in favor of one that is before 
them, and now sheds a few tears when his folly 
is detected, and his wickedness exposed. Per- 
haps one hundred and fifty ministers are kept 
from their important work, or their families, two 
or three days longer than they would have been, 
if it had not been for the trouble of getting one 
trifling preacher married. All the while we are 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



141 



living upon the kind families where the conference 
is held, and increasing expenses every day, which 
must be paid by the circuits or stations where the 
preachers go. But whatever may seem to be the 
opinion of a few individuals, (if they do not talk for 
talk's sake,) there always has been virtue enough 
in the conferences to arrest such triflers, and expel 
them from the connection ; or, if the case is not 
too bad, strip them of their ministerial robes, and 
return them to the membership, if they are pleased 
to have them. But the trouble does not end in 
conference ; for the preachers who are appointed 
to those circuits will go under a cloud, and have 
plenty of trouble. The young preachers who 
have dignified and refined feelings on this subject, 
will go to those circuits under inauspicious circum- 
stances ; it takes years to roll away this trouble, 
and some prejudice will be excited that never 
will be removed. I do not wish to be under- 
stood, that what I have written applies exclusively 
to young preachers of the present race. No, in- 
deed ; for ever since I have been acquainted with 
the itinerant connection we have had some such 
triflers among us ; and we had our troubles with 
them, and suffered reproach on their account. I 
think no one can rejoice more than I do to see 
sach a body of gifted, zealous young men, rising 
up, to take the places of those who are fallen 
asleep in Jesus ; or those who can do effective 
service no longer. These truly are the hope of 



142 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



the churcli. All I have said is intended to guard 
our young brethren against the snares others have 
fallen into, and so to avoid bringing the like trou- 
ble on themselves and others. I have often been 
delighted, and more than once melted into tears 
of joj, while our young men were passing their 
examination before conference, and heard such 
heart-cheering reports of them. Here my thoughts 
on the bishop's text end ; but as my sheet is not full, 
I will venture to write something on another subject. 

The representations of our preachers in con- 
ference are somewhat different now from what they 
used to be ; but you know, doctor, " we must keep 
up with the improvements of the age, and the 
spirit of the times," or we shall not be popular. 
We said, in conference, in the examination of a 
young preacher's character and qualifications, in 
days gone by, " His gifts are good, and may be 
improved ;" or " he is gifted ;" or " very gifted ;" 
as the case might be ; or " he is acceptable ;" or 
" very acceptable and useful among the people ;" 
or " he is much beloved, and has the confidence of 
the people, and crowds go to hear him." But we 
have a much shorter way now, by saying, " He is 
popular;" or "very popular;" or " he is unpopular," 
&c. And sometimes, " He is a gentleman, a Chris- 
tian gentleman, a perfect gentleman." I have 
wondered, when I heard this in conference, whe- 
ther the presiding elders and others meant to say 
that the rest of th^ preachers were not gentle- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. UB 

men ; or only that the young preacher spoken of 
can make a more handsome bow, and walk more 
gracefully up the aisle of the church, and skip into 
the pulpit — and after his " splendid effort" is over, 
skip down again ; and bow and scrape to all that 
come in his way, prattling, if not laughing, his way 
out of church. I hope no Methodist preacher could 
mean this, indeed I do not know what they mean. 

Popular is a word that could not have been 
used with any degree of propriety in a Methodist 
conference fifty years ago ; for the first Methodist 
preachers that I knew were the most unpopular 
men in the land. They were despised and hated 
almost everywhere, and all manner of evil was 
said of them. And yet they were eminently use- 
ful ; and the more holy they were in their lives, 
the more zealous in their Master's cause, and the 
more successful in their ministry, the more un- 
popular they were with a certain class of people; 
but unpopular as they were, no men could be more 
highly esteemed and more sincerely loved by their 
despised flocks. 

Many years ago I knew a very awkward boy; 
his father and mother were both pious and devoted 
Methodists. When quite young this boy profess- 
ed conversion, and soon caught what some would 
call the preaching fever. I thought he was a very 
unpromising boy to make a preacher. He met 
with considerable discouragement from the mem- 
bership ; but he had confidence, and a great deal 



144 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



of the black man's definition of perseverance, 
nameljj " Take hold, hold fast, hang on, and never 
let go.'' He hung on, and I think became a 
preacher of the Lord's own making. I have sat 
at his feet like a little child, and heard him with 
astonishment and great delight, particularly on 
one occasion, at a camp meeting, when I thought 
he preached a more than ordinary sermon. I was 
almost transported ; but my enjoyment was some- 
what let down by a fear that he had stolen or borrow- 
ed it. I soon had an opportunity of saying to him, 
" Sam, was it borrowed, or is it your own ?" He 
replied, " It is my own ; I never preached it before, 
and I had but a little time to prepare it." I knew 
if he had prepared it that morning the time was 
short enough. The first, or perhaps the second, 
circuit he went to, he took a rise and was useful, 
and wrote to a friend of his, and -among other 
things said, " I am afraid I am getting to be too 
pop-lar." The good brother was afraid of the 
dangerous thing ; for he seemed to have under- 
stood its meaning, though he could not spell it 
correctly. Sometimes when a young brother has 
been represented in conference as very popular, 
brother Sam, with his pop-larity, was brought to 
my mind ; and by a strange association of ideas 
I was led to think of "a most splendid" poplar- tree. 
And now, my dear doctor, if you can indorse this, 
I can send you a few more sheets on pop-larity. 

Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



145 



LETTER XVI. 

My Very Dear Brother, — Hived in the 
days when Mr. O'Kelly got up his very popular 
Republican Methodism. I have also lived pretty 
well through another strong excitement, gotten 
up and continued in our church by reformers. 
The doctrine of mutual rights and lay represeiita- 
tion was thought to be very popular ; and would 
keep up with the improvements of the age and the 
spirit of the times exactly. I have also heard, with 
the hearing of the ear, of the very popular move- 
ments of our ultra-abolition brethren in the north. 

But I fear there is at this time a leaven at 
work in the church that will leaven the whole 
lump, and be more injurious to us than O'Kelly's 
Republican Methodism, afterward nicknamed 
Christian ; — the popular doctrine of mutual rights 
and lay representation ; or the doctrine of amalga- 
mation, advocated by some ultra abolitionists. I 
fear that unmethodistical and unchristian thirst 
for popular preaching, whether there be any Holy 
Ghost in it or not, so it but please the people. 

The preachers become popular, and they must 
study themselves to death to keep their popularity. 
If they have not time, or cannot prepare a splen- 
did sermon, they ? :e strongly tempted to steal or 
borrow one, and pass it off for their own. They 

must have variety also ; hence they range the vast 
10 



146 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



fields of speculation in search of new things. At 
last they bring Christ before us ; but, alas ! they 
have dressed him up in such a fanciful and splen- 
did robe, that we, old-fashioned people, who have 
been accustomed to hear plain Wesleyan sermons, 
can hardly tell whether it is Christ our Saviour, 
or the high priest, his enemy. It is true, it is a 
matter of no consequence with some, whether they 
understand it or not, if it be but new and grand ; 
" a most sublime and splendid thought f " a de- 
velopment of intellect " a grand display of 
talent." 

While memory lasts, I never can forget a lec- 
ture our venerable Asbury gave us, a great many 
years ago, in the Baltimore Annual Conference, 
on this very subject. He related a case of a 
Wesleyan preacher who had been sent to one of 
the islands, where he preached the gospel with 
the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, and great 
was his success; but he was very unpopular, and 
dreadfully persecuted, perhaps cast into prison. 
But he bore up under all this like a primitive 
Methodist preacher; and even rejoiced that he 
was worthy to suffer persecution for Christ's 
sake. The climate, his excessive labor, together 
with his sufferings, soon wore him down, and he 
came to America to recover his health. In this 
country he became popular, very popular in- 
deed. 

When the bishop came to this part of the 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



147 



preacher's history he half closed his eyes, and 
raised his hand, and said, " The breath of the 
people came down upon him, and he sunk !" and 
the dear old bishop dropped his hand upon the 
desk. Doctor, you remember his solemn and 
impressive way of saying such things. I feel 
this moment as if I saw and heard him — " The 
breath of the people came down upon him, and he 
sunk." Yes, he sunk low enough. Strange, 
indeed, that the breath of the people in this land 
of liberty should prove more fatal to the preacher 
than rough, persecuting hands, in another place I 

Another of the same name, and the same stock, 
sprung up among us ; and he became popular, 
and the breath of the people sunk him. And 
where is he ? and what is he now ? 

There never was so eloquent and powerful a 
preacher in the world as our blessed Saviour ; for 
his very enemies were constrained to say, "No 
man ever spake like this man," for " he taught as 
one having authority, and not as the " popular 
" scribes." But it is well known that he was very 
unpopular, and that he was reviled and persecuted, 
and his most benevolent acts were ascribed to 
diabolic agency, by the men who thirsted for popu- 
larity ; for they loved the praises of men. 

The rulers, doctors, scribes, and Pharisees, with 
the high priest at their head, all combined against 
the unpopular Jesus ; because he was meek and 
lowly. His whole life and doctrine were certainly 



148 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



very unpopular. On one occasion, when he rode 
into Jerusalem, on an ass, without a saddle, the 
first and only time we ever hear of his riding, his 
disciples uttered aloud some expressions of grati- 
tude for what they had seen and heard ; but even 
those hosannas from an unpopular crowd could 
not be borne with. They offended the people very 
much. It is evident that the whole life and doc- 
trines of Jesus Christ went to stamp naugJd upon 
popularity, or " the breath of the people," as the 
bishop called it. 

Perhaps there was not a more popular man in 
all the land of Judea than Saul of Tarsus. He 
w^as gifted by nature ; a great scholar ; as touching 
the law, blameless ; and was exceeding mad, or 
zealous, against all who called upon the name of 
the Lord Jesus; persecuting these unpopular 
heretics even unto strange cities, he wished to ex- 
terminate them from the earth. He stood by, 
and held the clothes of those who stoned the un- 
popular Stephen out of the world. He must have 
been a great favorite with the high priest, for he 
received a commission from him to Damascus, that 
if he found any of this unpopular way, whether 
they were men or women, to bring them bound 
to Jerusalem. 

But, as he was on his way to Damascus, the 
Lord overtook him in his popular career, and laid 
his popularity in the dust at once ; and there it 
lies buried to the present day. For Saul soon 



AN OLD ITINEKANT. 



149 



became one of the most unpopular men in the 
world; so much so that his own kinsmen and 
brethren according to the flesh went about to kill 
him, and would have done so had he not obtained 
help from God. From that time he pursued the 
most unpopular course that ever a man did, and 
even gloried in it. He never was popular but 
once after that ; and then but for a little while. 
He became so popular at Ljstra that they deified 
him, and the priest of Jupiter was actually making 
preparation to offer sacrifice to him ; but Saul's 
unpopular conduct soon ruined his popularity. He 
became so offensive to the people that they stoned 
him, and left him for dead ; but, while a few of 
his unpopular followers were standing by him, he 
revived, and walked into the city. All the fol- 
lowers of Christ were unpopular ; and they were 
so because their pure and heart-searching doctrines 
and holy lives poured light upon the world, and it 
was discovered that their deeds were evil. 

Peter, on one occasion, seemed to be afraid of 
losing his popularity with his Jewish brethren ; 
and went a little out of the straight-forw^ard way to 
maintain it. And this could not be wondered at, 
if, as some say, he was the first pope. But the 
unpopular Paul, who gloried in nothing but the 
cross of Christ; yea, in stripes, imprisonments, 
and in every kind of reproach for Christ's sake ; 
this unpopular, straight-forward Paul, had the 
courage to come forward and reprove Peter, (the 



150 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



prince of the apostles, and first pope,) because he 
was to blame in this thing, plainly proving him 
to be fallible. The church had fightings without, 
and fears within, for many years. These fears 
were occasioned by false brethren and false apos- 
tles, who wished to be popular ; and, of course, 
laid aside the offensive and unpopular doctrines of 
the cross, and got up a new gospel, that they 
thought would please the people better. But none 
of these things moved Paul; for he was determined 
to know nothing among men but Christ, and him 
crucified. He knew the foundation stood sure, 
and the gates of hell could not prevail against the 
church. 

The church never was in so much danger as it 
was under the reign of Constantine ; when these 
fightings without ceased, and the humble, self- 
denying, cross-bearing ministers of Jesus Christ 
were taken by the hand by that emperor, pro- 
moted to posts of profit and honor, and so became 
very popular with the people. For a union of 
church and state was injurious to both, and is so 
to this day. It was then that corruption in doc- 
trine and practice crept in, which never has 
been removed from some churches. It is true, 
reformers have been raised up from time to time, 
who have done great things for the church and 
for the world ; but the mystery of iniquity still 
works. About a century ago, the Lord, in mercy 
to the church and the world, raised up the Wes- 



AN OLD ITINEBANT. 15^ 

leys and their coadjutors; and their whole and 
sole object appeared to be to reform themselves 
and others, and spread Scriptural holiness over 
the land. 

But, alas ! does not this mystery of iniquity," 
I mean this itching for popularity and popular 
preaching, already work among their followers, 
both in England and America ? I do believe 
that all ministers of Christ, yea, all Christians, 
should pursue an humble, yet dignified, course, 
regardless of what the world thinks of them, hav- 
ing their eyes continually fixed upon the glory of 
God, and acting with reference to the great day 
of judgment. By such a line of conduct they will 
put to silence the ignorance of ungodly men, and 
stop the mouths of gainsayers. They will make 
themselves respected and useful among those who 
cannot love them. For the world is the world 
still, and lies as deep as ever in wickedness ; and 
the carnal mind, in those who are under the in- 
fluence of the spirit of the world, is as strong as 
ever, and as much opposed to God and holiness. 

I do believe, yea I know, that a preacher with 
but moderate preaching abilities can do more good 
in a circuit, or even a popular station, than many 
popular preachers do. Let the humble man of 
God be a man of much prayer, and have his mind 
constantly impressed with this truth, "That all 
the good that is done in the earth, the Lord doeth 
it." Let him have his heart full of the love of 



152 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



God, and his zeal burning for the glory of God 
and the salvation of souls ; let him constantly have 
with him the spirit of his work, and be found 
preaching everywhere^ and instructing the chil- 
dren, and visiting the sick and dying ; let him be 
particularly attentive to those who labor under 
clouds of temptations, or are in any trouble ; let 
him visit from house to house, and take good care 
of the lambs of the flock, and be a good nurse to 
young converts, encouraging them, and comforting 
them under their doubts, and temptations, and 
various new trials ; let him exhort believers every- 
where to follow after holiness, and set them a 
good example ; let him visit the classes, and attend 
prayer meetings, and everywhere kindle or blow 
up the flame of vital piety ; let him attend to sab- 
bath schools, and all the little things belonging to 
Methodism — and he will be very useful, and his 
labors of love will be recorded on high, and the 
fruit will be seen when he is gone. Though he 
may not be popular, his work will endure the fire, 
for it is not " wood, hay, stubble and it will be 
a pleasant thing to follow such a brother. 

Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



LETTER XYIL 

Dear Brother, — If you indorse all that I 
have writteiij or may write, on popularity, I shall 
fear more for your popularity than my own. A 
great many years ago, I was acquainted with a 
preacher who labored a whole year on a station, 
and was very popular, for he was a ^' most splen- 
did " preacher ; but, it is to be feared, he was a 
poor pastor, and no disciplinarian. He sometimes 
ventured a little too far from the old beaten path 
into the regions of speculation ; where it was not 
always profitable or safe to follow him. At con- 
ference, when the numbers were called for, he said, 
" I have forgotten them ; but, I suppose, about the 
same as last year, for we have taken none in, nor 
turned any out." 

No one need envy those who have to follow 
some popular preachers, unless they should be 
popular themselves. Some of these splendid 
preachers take all the religion of their converts 
with them ; for as soon as they are gone, the con- 
verts go also. It is true, their hearers may weep 
for their loss ; but it is too much in the spirit of 
Micah, who wept when he said, " They have taken 
away my gods, and what have I more ?" 

No doubt but they are converted to the preach- 
er, as well as by him ; but they could not have 
been converted to God, or they would have 



154 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



loved him, though their favorite preacher was 
gone. They could not have been converted to 
the truth, or they would have loved the truth, 
because it is truth. They would have loved the 
cause of God, because it is his cause ; or, hke 
Moses, they would have loved the people of God, 
because they are his people. 

And is it any wonder that popular preachers 
have such converts, when our blessed Saviour 
himself, at a certain time, had a number of such 
converts ? But he did not approve of them. He 
knew the work was not yet well done, and brought 
his heart-searching and soul-humbling doctrine 
home to them. They were offended, and went 
away, saying, " These are hard sayings ; who can 
hear them ?" This must have been a great shock 
to his real disciples. If such a thing was to hap- 
pen in our day, the preacher would be charged 
with driving away the congregation, and doing 
more harm than ever he did good. '* What a pity," 
says one, " to blast such a prospect, and drive away 
such a congregation!" Our Lord turned to his 
disciples, and said, " Will ye also go away ?" But 
they understood these things a little better, and 
replied, " To whom shall we go ? for thou hast the 
words of eternal life." They loved the words of 
eternal life more than all the loaves and fishes. 

" Popular" — Is it any wonder that our people 
look for popular preaching, when it is in so many 
preachers' mouths ? A preacher is sent to a cir- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



155 



cuit, or perhaps a popular station. Now in every 
station there are some who are set up as judges 
of preaching; and it seems they are not only to 
judge for themselves, but for the whole congrega- 
tion. They hear the preacher with a critic's ear, 
and perhaps never think of praying for him. After 
the service is over, many are anxious to hear the 
judges decide on the preacher. " Well," says one, 
"what do you think of the preacher? Will he 
do ?" " 0 ! he is splendid ; the sermon was a 
most splendid display of talent, indeed ! He will 
be very popular, and command large congrega- 
tions." It runs from one to another through the 
whole society, from the least to the greatest ; and 
it is splendor all round. But, perhaps, another is 
sent to the same, or some other congregation, 
where the judges decide unfavorably; and the 
preacher's usefulness is greatly injured, and it will 
be a long time before he can rise above it, if at all. 
The judges of good preaching say, " He may be a 
good man, but he is a man of no talents. He 
can't preach, and never will be popular among us; 
he might do for some other people, but he won't 
do for us ; he will preach away all the congrega- 
tion." " But," says one who has a little mind of 
his own, and claims the liberty of judging for him- 
self, "I thought he preached a very plain, ex- 
cellent sermon, and there was a great deal of 
unction in it, and a good state of feeling in the 
congregation." " O yes," says the judge, " he may 



156 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



do somewhere else ; but he wont do for us." The 
decision of the judges is handed from one to an- 
other, until the very small fry join in the cry, " He 
can't preach ; he is not popular." Now. this is a 
very strange thing, indeed, that the conference, 
with the bishop at their head, who have examined 
him from year to year, and the thousands upon 
thousands who have heard him with pleasure and 
profit for so many years, should all be mistaken. 
And what is still more surprising is, that the great 
Head of the church should make such a mistake, 
and send out a man to preach that can't preach ; 
and add scores of seals to his ministry, too, and 
some of them as wise and as good judges of 
preaching as those who now sit in judgment on 
him. But, still " he can't preach ;" and, of course, 
ought not to try to preach before such splendid 
judges, and to such a refined congregation ! 

For a man never to go out of his way, or hear 
a preacher out of his own church, or stated place 
of worship, is bigotry. It may sometimes be done 
to profit and edification. But what we reprobate 
is the constant racing after new preachers, and 
being never satisfied unless some new preacher, 
or some new thing, is heard. Such hearers of 
the word are mostly unstable as water, and never 
to be depended upon. They " never excel," either 
in holiness, or holy living. Those, after all, are 
the best hearers, and the greatest friends to the 
preachers and the cause of God, who regularly fill 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



157 



their seats in the house of God, because it is the 
house of God ; and when they hear the word, hear 
it as the word of God, and give it a place in a 
good and honest heart. Such will be profited by 
every gospel sermon. And when a new preacher 
comes to their house, they hear him with pleasure, 
and profit by the word ; not because he is new, but 
because he brings the word of salvation. And 
they have the gratification to reflect, (for they 
think of all these little things,) that they are in 
their own place, and do not crowd other people 
out of their seats ; or intrude on those who ought 
to have the privilege of hearing the stranger in 
their own house. Many of these racers after 
great preachers are, after all, no better judges of 
good preaching than other people. 

Some years ago, when a great preacher was in 
Baltimore, a report was circulated that he was to 
preach in a certain church, and a number went out 
that night to hear him ; some for the first time. 
But the trumpet gave an uncertain sound that 
time ; of course the preacher did not come. A 
young man, who woidd he a preacher, was put up. 
I knew him ; he was a very poor thing, indeed. 
He had confidence enough, and also a few hig 
words. Some ladies had procured very conspi- 
cuous seats in the gallery, and they thought them- 
selves very fortunate indeed. While the young 
orator was displaying his talents, one of these 
ladies said to another, " Ain't that grand ?" and 



m 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



when he gave another burst of his oratory, "Is 
not that splendid ?" and then again, "Did you ever 
hear the like All this very much amused some 
ladies who sat behind them, and were in the secret, 
who afterward told of them. I knew a preacher 
who was heard for the eloquent and heavenly- 
minded Summerfield. The young, and almost 
beardless preacher, was heard with great attention ; 
and not a little applause was bestowed by some 
gentlemen, while the discourse was delivering, as 
well as afterward ; but when they found out their 
mistake, they went away, and said, " They never 
heard such poor preaching at a camp meeting be- 
fore." So much for judges of great preaching. 

The official members of a certain station were 
holding a council about their next preacher, or 
who would be sent to them. One said, " We must 
have a man that will visit the members of the 
church, and attend to them, or we shall run down. 
We need a revival among ourselves." ^ " 0 !" says 
another, " I do not care so much about the mem- 
bers. We must have a preacher that is popular, 
who will please the people that are not members 
of the church, and they will help us to pay off our 
church debt." Methinks I hear the official mem- 
bers in another quarter say, " We are few in num- 
ber, and mostly poor, and shall never be popular 
unless we have a splendid church. It is true Mr. 
Wesley said, and, indeed, made a rule of it, ' Let 
all our churches be built plain and decent, and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



169 



with free seats ; but not more expensive than is 
absolutely unavoidable ; otherwise the necessity 
of raising money will make rich men necessary to 
us. But if so, we must be dependent on them — 
yea, and governed by them. And then farewell 
Methodist discipline, if not doctrine too.' But 
the old gentleman lived many years behind the 
improvements of the age ; and never cared any- 
thing about popularity, or costliness, or grandeur, 
in the worship of God. He had no taste, and was 
an old croaker, and so was Asbury, too. If they 
had lived in our day, they would have caught 
some of the spirit of the times. We must have a 
grand church, cost what it will. Rich men are 
necessary, for they have the cash — and money we 
must have. We must have scaffold poles. Scaf- 
folding is necessary, or we never can carry up our 
costly church, with a high steeple, and splendid 
bell to chime them to the house of God. And we 
will have nice pews for their accommodation, and 
they are well able to pay for them. We must 
have an organ, and other instruments of music, 
too, to please their taste, and delight their ears, 
and cheer their hearts. Above all, we must have 
a talented, and most splendid preacher, that will 
study hard to please them, and keep the congre- 
gation together. We do not intend to exclude the 
poor, for we will have some free seats. To be sure, 
they will not be pews, but seats ; yet they are 
good enough for those who cannot pay for a pew; 



160 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



and, if they are humble, as poor people ought to 
be, and in earnest about their souls, they will sit 
on them." 

I have done ; and must now say to my dear 
doctor, that ever since I have been writing on the 
bishop's text, and about popularity, I have been 
like an ignorant and unskillful mariner that has 
been driven out to sea, and soon driven out of his 
latitude. Chills have come over me, and I have 
felt strange sensations about my heart. True, if 
I were to write all the notions that have come into 
my head about popularity, I should scribble on 
awhile longer. 

I hope some one will take it up ; for I am quite 
serious when I say, this itching for popularity is 
a dangerous leaven, that, if not checked, will leaven 
the whole lump ; and will greatly embarrass our 
superintendency, and destroy our itinerancy. In 
your controversy with our reforming brother, you 
took the ground : " That sacrifice was made, on the 
part of the people and preachers, mutual and volun- 
tary sacrifice. When either party refuse to make 
this sacrifice freely, for the general good, they de- 
part from the old Methodistical plan, and cramp 
the superintendency, and strike a deadly blow at 
the itinerancy." 

I used to wonder why some of your correspond- 
ents wrote such long pieces, when everything 
really necessary could be said in half the words, 
and only take up half the space in your paper. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



161 



But my wonder is at an end ; for when we scrib- 
blers once begin, it is hard to find a stopping place. 
I have got safe to land, and I mean to stay there ; 
and carry out my simple narrative a little further. 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER XVIII. 

Dear Brother, — I now resume my narrative. 
Our conference broke up on the first of May. On 
the second I left Alexandria, in company with 
some of the preachers, who took me to Mr. Scott's, 
on the Elkridge, where we found a family of young 
people, all single, living together. Frederick, the 
eldest brother, had charge of the family. They 
were all pious, except Frederick ; and he was re- 
markably kind to us. At night we had a divine 
shower in time of family prayer. The girls were 
shouting happy. Brother Josiah Mercer married 
into this pious family, and his house has long been 
the preachers' home. He also has a son in the 
itinerancy. A few years ago I visited Ellicott's 
Mills, and put up with brother Mercer, where I 
met with Frederick, still unconverted, although 
under some concern about his soul. When we 
joined in family prayer, I could not help think- 
ing of our first meeting, and the first time some 
of us joined in family worship, and made mention 
of the kind Providence that had brought four of us 



162 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



together again, to wit, Frederick, George, sister 
Mercer, and myself. I believe Frederick's heart 
was touched. On Sunday morning, while I was 
preaching, he was much broken up. I was pre- 
vailed on to try to preach again at night ; the word 
went like a sword to his heart. He cried aloud 
for mercy, and came to the altar of prayer, where 
he made a full surrender of himself to God, and 
found peace to his soul. There was joy in heaven 
and upon earth at the conversion of this aged man ; 
and I feel thankful that I was in any degree an 
instrument in the conversion of one whom I have 
known so many years, and for whom I always had 
a kind regard. 

On the 6th of May I rode to Baltimore, and 
had my lodging with William Ashman, Esq. I 
was a stranger to him, but was received as a min- 
ister of Christ, by one of the kindest families I 
ever lodged with in Baltimore, or anywhere else. 
On the 7th of May our General Conference opened. 
Dr. Coke was not present. I made no notes, and 
have very little recollection of what was done, for 
I was so imprudent as to lay aside my winter 
stockings, and put on thin ones. Shortly after 
conference began, going one evening with my old 
friend Newcomer to a friend's house, we were 
caught in a heavy shower of rain, and I got wet, 
particularly my legs and feet, and sat all the 
evening in my wet clothes in a room where there 
was no fire. I went to bed with a chill, and a 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



163 



fever ensued. When I returned to my lodging- 
next day I had a return of the rheumatism, and I 
never had it so bad before. I was confined to 
bed, not able to rise, or even turn in bed, without 
help. Several of the preachers came to see me, 
also some of our Baltimore friends, among whom 
was Joseph Owens, then quite a young man, who 
brought me a bottle of the essence of mustard. 
Dr. Wilkins was called to me, I believe at Bishop 
Asbury's request. The doctor prescribed ; and 
when I was able to get along on crutches, I went 
to his house, and he advised me to get electrified. 
I did so, and have never had the rheumatism very 
bad since. Here my acquaintance with Dr. Wil- 
kins began, and I felt grateful for his kind atten- 
tion ; but he has brought me under still greater 
obligations since. Old brother Wilkins, the doc- 
tor's father, was among the first converts to Me- 
thodism in the city of Annapolis. He was awa- 
kened to a sense of his danger as a sinner, and his 
need of salvation, by reading " Baxter's New Tes- 
tament with Notes," an old neglected book he had 
in his house for many years, but never found out 
its value until then. His mind was prepared to 
profit by Methodist preaching. He soon found 
peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; 
attached himself to the Methodist society, and be- 
came a very active and useful member. He af- 
terward removed to Baltimore, where I first saw 
him. He died in great peace many years since. 



164 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Father Wilkins' eldest son, William, was a mer- 
chant, and for many years a prominent member 
in the Light-street congregation. His house was 
Bishop M'Kendree's home, (after the doctor left 
the city,) where he was revered and nursed, as a 
father by his children. Brother William was 
called hence in the midst of prosperity and use- 
fulness. His widow is still living, and I believe 
takes a lively interest and an active part in all 
the benevolent and charitable institutions of our 
church. 

Dr. Wilkins married the daughter of Samuel 
Owings, Esq., an early convert of Bishop Asbury, 
and a member of the first class ever organized in 
Baltimore. He was the intimate and particular 
friend of Bishop Asbury for many years. I was 
often at his house, for there the preachers were 
always welcome. I found him to be a man of 
God, and a father in our Israel, and a very fine 
sample of the primitive Baltimore Methodists. 
Brother Owings' first wife was piously inclined 
long before she heard the Methodists. It was a 
very dark day in religious matters, few knew any- 
thing about experimental religion ; but she was in 
earnest, and followed the best light she had — was 
led to the cross of Christ, and enabled to believe 
in him to the saving of her soul. This joyful 
news she communicated to her parson. Alas ! he 
did not understand her case, and thought she was 
losing her senses ; but when she heard the Me- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



165 



thodists, she found to her joy that they perfectly 
understood her case, and she presently made choice 
of them as her people, though everywhere spoken 
against. She afterward became a very active and 
useful member of the society, a leader of a female 
class, much beloved by the members, and highly 
esteemed by all who knew her. She died as she 
lived, a pattern of piety. 

I must here record, that I deem it as one of the 
kindest dispensations of Providence toward me, 
that when I could get along no longer as an ef- 
fective laborer in the Lord's vineyard I was 
directed to call a halt here, where I have Dr. 
Wilkins as one of my nearest neighbors ; and 
have had his professional services in my family 
ever since I have lived here, without fee or re- 
ward. Once he (under God) raised my dear 
wife from the gates of death. Some years ago I 
had the cholera, and should have slipped out of 
the world before many of my neighbors knew that 
I was ill, if it had not been for the doctor's skill 
and unremitted attention. " A friend in need is a 
friend indeed."* 

On the 23d of May our General Conference 
adjourned ; and on the 4th of June I was able to 
leave the house of my kind host, and set out for 
Winchester circuit. They (the Baltimore friends) 

^ Dr. Wilkins, the friend of Asbury and M'Kendree, is 
no longer with us. He has gone to join his old associates 
in glory. 



166 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



had much trouble as well as expense with me. 
May Heaven reward their kindness ! 

On the 5th I got safe back to Winchester cir- 
cuit, and entered heartily into my year's labor. 
We had some success and some trouble. It was 
a year of great affliction and death through that 
country. We, however, appointed a camp meet- 
ing on the land of John Devenport, Esq., head of 
BuUskin, Jefferson county, to commence on the 
10th of August. This was the first camp meet- 
ing, properly so called, that was ever held in that 
part of Virginia, and continued for nine days. We 
had but a small encampment, but a great crowd 
of people about us. For this meeting I drew up 
the first rules I ever saw, or heard read on a camp 
ground, and some of them are still in use. Daniel 
Hitt was our presiding elder. We were pretty 
well supplied with ministerial help. S. G. Ros- 
zel, James Smith, Thomas Budd, and others, 
were present; among them was Richard Swift, 
one of the first Methodist preachers I became ac- 
quainted with. He had been a traveling preacher 
for many years, but broke down, as did most of 
the early preachers, located, and married in the 
neighborhood of Shepherdstown. He was a very 
able and successful minister of Jesus Christ. He 
was one of my nursing fathers when I first tra- 
veled Berkley circuit, in the fall and winter of 
1793. He came to our meeting, and preached 
from, " Enoch walked with God, and he was not, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



167 



for God took him.'' He was much drawn out and 
animated, and preached his last sermon. He came 
in the morning, and returned in the evening sick 
of a bilious fever, and soon died, A fine text and 
sermon to finish off with. Benjamin Boydstone, 
another of my nursing fathers, was there. He did not 
come to stay, but was so dehghted with the meet- 
ing that he left us with reluctance, and in tears ; 
for we had no accommodation for any one, and 
but little for ourselves. This good man was a 
Methodist in the revolutionary war, and suffered 
much persecution for conscience' sake. He was 
an exhorter when I first knew him. He after- 
ward became a preacher, and outlived all his ene- 
mies ; for who did not believe that Benny Boyd- 
stone, and his intelligent and heavenly minded 
wife, were saints long before they died ? They 
both lived to a good old age. 

Two young ladies came from the neighborhood 
of Shepherdstown, intending to return that even- 
ing. One of them was happily converted on the 
camp ground, and the other left the ground under 
deep conviction. "When they got a few miles 
from our little camp, her distress became so great 
that they called a halt in the road, (for they were 
in a carriage,) when the Lord powerfully con- 
verted her souL They forgot all about accommo- 
dation, or anything to eat, and returned in all 
haste to the camp ground. It was about sunset 
when they came in shouting. I was lying in the 



168 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



tent sick, but heard a most tremendous shout in 
the camp. I raised my aching head, and inquired 
of one the cause, and was told the other Miss 
Graham had got converted on the road, and they 
bad both returned shouting happy. This was 
enough to make a sick man well. Our meeting 
resulted in the conversion of upward of sixty 
souls, and many professors very much quickened. 
We had much rain, and were but poorly provided 
for it. On the fifth day I was obliged to leave the 
ground, by a bilious fever, which became very 
prevalent throughout the country about this time ; 
and some were foolish enough to lay it to the 
camp meeting. Henry Smith. 



LETTER XIX. 

Dear Brother, — I said in my last, that 
foolish people blamed our camp meeting for the 
fever that broke out about that time. But so re- 
markably did kind Providence favor us, that not 
one who stayed on the ground, even one night, 
died of the fever. I had it very severely, and 
was confined to my bed and room for eleven 
weeks. I had three physicians with me, but men 
and means seemed to avail nothing. Life was 
despaired of, and eternity seemed to be disclosed 
to view. I was not afraid to die ; for I saw my 
way clear. But I had a desire to live, only that 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



169 



I might suffer a little more in the cause of my be- 
loved Saviour, who had suffered so much for me ; 
and, if possible, win a few more souls to him. It 
occurred to me that the Saviour was the same now 
that he had ever been ; and that he had the same 
control over all diseases now that he ever had ; 
and if it were his will, he could restore without as 
well as by means. I cried mightily to the Lord, 
and I am sure that he heard me ; and I received 
faith to believe that it would be so. The fever 
was rebuked, and I began to mend from that hour. 
I was filled with unspeakable joy, and never lost 
my confidence that I should recover ; and still be- 
lieve that I was restored in answer to prayer. 
But my memory received such a shock in that 
affliction, that it has never recovered. For some 
time all recollection of the past was entirely oblit- 
erated, and I was an infant. And from that time 
a kind of confusion of ideas, and embarrassment, 
have come over me occasionally. This I have 
felt often in public speaking. 

Our annual conference, for the year 1805, was 
held in Winchester ; and began on the first of 
April. Forty-one members of conference were 
in attendance. We sat in an upper room, at bro- 
ther George Reed's. The conference proved a 
blessing to Winchester and that region of country, 
although we had no great work in the congrega- 
tion at the time. The preachers' horses were kept 
free of expense by our country friends. 



170 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



From that conference I received my appoint- 
ment to Calvert circuit, Maryland ; the bishop 
said, " to cure me of the rheumatism." I preached 
my first sermon at mother Simmonds's, on the 
14th of April, being Easter Sunday. One sinner, 
at least, was awakened, and afterward became a 
local preacher. I felt myself quite at home among 
those dear, simple-hearted, and loving people ; and 
had a fair prospect of a pleasant and prosperous 
year. Here I saw and conversed with many of 
the first converts to Methodism in Maryland. The 
religious experience of many of them was very 
entertaining, as well as edifying. I heard them 
talk with great affection about their first preachers ; 
particularly Jonathan Forrest, John Haggerty, 
and many others ; for I think I never saw a peo- 
ple who loved their preachers better. In this 
circuit I found brother Job Guest, then quite a 
stripling. How time rolls away ! It seems to me 
like yesterday when I saw him coming to meeting 
with his pious father and mother ; and now his 
head is as gray as mine. He had just begun to 
speak in public. I took him by the hand, gave 
him license to exhort, encouraged him to hold re- 
ligious meetings, and to " go ahead." I was re- 
appointed to Calvert circuit, in 1812, when, at the 
request of one of the bishops, I collected the ma- 
terials for an historical sketch of the introduction 
and progress of Methodism in that coimtry. The 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



171 



Weems, Woods, Dorseys, and many others of the 
first converts, were then living. I kept no copy 
of it, and it is gone for ever. I was removed from 
that circuit after the first quarter, and sent to take 
Mr. R. Willis ton's place in Fredericktown. Bro- 
ther John Pitts had been there the year before, 
and had a gracious work, and a fine addition to 
the society ; but Mr. W. was not of the same 
spirit, and had actually made arrangements to 
leave us, and take a church in New- York. I found 
the society completely divided, brother against 
brother. The preacher was popular with the 
people of the world. Some of the Methodists 
were delighted to have it so ; and seemed to think 
they were getting to be popular also. But a part 
of the society did not go with the preacher in his 
popular course, and there were divisions among 
them. I heard Mr. Williston preach his vale- 
dictory. It breathed anything but love toward 
those whom he esteemed his enemies in the so- 
ciety. As I was not " pop-lar," I had my difii- 
culties, and never felt at home there ; and kind 
Providence opened the way for my release after 
the next quarter. 

I returned to Winchester circuit, and also went 
a few rounds on old Berkley circuit, where I found 
many of my fathers and mothers still alive and 
holding on their way. This year I was an itin- 
erant indeed ; for I had one station and three 



172 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



circuits. But it was a matter of no consequence 
to me how often I was changed ; for I could gather 
lip my all in a few hours, and be off. 

Our conference for 1806 was held in Balti- 
more, and opened on Friday, March 14th. We 
had a very pleasant session, and a gracious 
work in the congregations. I heard Bishops As- 
bury and Whatcoat both preach on the necessity 
of entire sanctification. The word sunk deep 
into my heart ; and, thank the Lord, it is still 
there. 

More than ever yours, &c., 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER XX. 

Dear Brother, — Li the Baltimore circuit 
I had brother D. Fidler for my colleague. 
He is one of the very few of my old colleagues 
who are still living. It is pleasant to call to re- 
membrance old fellow-laborers. He was a few 
years older in the ministry than myself ; but for 
some reasons, not known to me, the charge of the 
circuit was put into my hands ; and I felt it to be 
a heavy charge indeed. I am sure that I never 
entered more sincerely and heartily into the spirit 
of my work. " Holiness to the Lord " was my 
motto — justification, the witness of the Spirit in 
the believer's heart, entire sanctification by faith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



173 



were my themes by day and by night, and subjects 
of conversation with professors of religion every- 
where. This was decidedly the best circuit I had 
ever traveled — -few 'preaching places, short rides, 
good accommodation, and sure pay. We had six- 
teen week-day appointments, and four regular 
Sunday appointments, and occasional appoint- 
ments in the afternoon or night ; but we were 
not idle. 

I wish to be distinctly understood, that in making 
the following remarks I have no quarrel with the 
preachers who have traveled Baltimore circuit, or 
anywhere else. We have lived and labored to- 
gether like brethren, and I have received more 
tokens of love and friendship from them than I 
deserve, and I declare that I intend nothing per- 
sonal. I fix upon this circuit merely because I am 
best acquainted with things here, (it being my 
present residence,) and, from what I hear and see, 
it stands about on a par with many other circuits. 
I view myself as standing on ground between ef- 
fective itinerants and local ministers, and the 
membership, and can disinterestedly and impar- 
tially look on both sides. The circuit, since 1806, 
has been divided, or cut up, and some important 
appointments have been taken off, and with them 
considerable pecuniary resources. Some of our 
important and wealthy members have died, and 
others have removed, which has left the circuit 
rather weak. The membership were more nu- 



174 



KECOLLECTIONS OF 



merous and able in 1806 than now, yet the whole 
amount of money raised for all purposes could not 
have amounted formerly to more than six hundred 
dollars; yet all claims were met, and now it re- 
quires more than double that sum to meet the 
expenses of the circuit alone. It has been re- 
gretted by the stewards and others that they have 
sometimes had to send their preachers to con- 
ference deficient. This has no doubt been for the 
want of uniformity in carrying our system into 
eiSfect, by which every one should come up to his 
duty. If this were done there would be no lack, 
and no cause of complaint on the part of the 
preachers or people. I know something about 
old and new times in Methodism. I do not like 
the distinction between old and new Methodism ; 
for, thank the Lord, our Methodism is still the 
same. After all that has been said and written 
in favor of building parsonages, and making pro- 
vision for the preachers and their families, much 
remains to be done on some circuits. But may I 
be permitted to institute an inquiry here, whether 
our people have not, in some things, gone ahead 
of some of their preachers ? One of the strongest 
arguments in favor of dividing circuits went to 
prove that the preachers had too much riding and 
preaching to do, and had no time for study or 
pastoral visits. The necessity of pastoral visits 
has been justly and strongly urged ; and it is said 
that the pastor should visit fi^om house to house, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



176 



and become personally acquainted with every 
family of his charge, and every member of his 
flock. All this sounds delightfully to the ear, and 
reads well on paper. But has it been done better 
since we have had small circuits than when we had 
large ones? Let the stewards and people, who 
know, speak out on this subject. And let the 
inquiry be made, whether the people see their 
preachers more frequently, or know more about 
them, or receive more pastoral visits, or any hind 
of visits, from them, than they did when the cir- 
cuits were large. 

We further inquire whether the few week-day 
appointments that are left on these circuits are 
better attended to, and more faithfully served, than 
when the circuits were large ; and whether the 
classes are met as regularly, and their meetings 
made as spiritual and profitable, as formerly? 
Doctor, you have been a country Methodist long 
enough to know that if a preacher were to study his 
sermon a whole week, and then preach it by rote 
two hours long, we country people would not be 
satisfied without a good class meeting at the close. 
We would make another inquiry, whether the 
preachers on some small circuits ride fewer miles 
than the preachers did when the circuits were 
large ? and whether they travel less on the sabbath- 
day ? I make no further inquiries for the present. 
It would be well for the church, and also well for 
the preachers, if the bishops and conferences 



176 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



would inquire into the matter. And let no one 
denounce me as a croaker until he has fully inves- 
tigated this subject, and found me guilty. The 
spirit of enterprise, industry, and zeal, on the part of 
the preachers in these old circuits, is as necessary 
as the spirit of liberality, on the part of the people, 
to keep up the work. The Discipline tells the 
preacher that he is not to satisfy himself with 
preaching so many sermons, or going through a 
dull round of duty, but his business is to save as 
many souls as he can. This is his high and holy 
calling ; and when an itinerant's heart is in this 
work, it is the most honorable and delightful work 
under heaven ; but when the heart is not in this 
blessed work, it amounts to little more than a 
profession, and becomes the greatest drudgery of 
any profession in the world, and should be aban- 
doned as soon as possible, for it is as yet a poor 
money-making business. A Methodist preacher 
is not only to go to those that want him, but also 
to those who need him most. A preacher should 
never wait for an invitation to visit any Methodist 
family in the bounds of his charge. This is fram- 
ing an excuse for the neglect of duty. Methodist 
preachers have the affections and confidence of 
their people. Let them see that they keep them ; 
for when the people are slighted or neglected they 
feel it, and it shakes their confidence, cools their 
love, and they sometimes draw their purse strings 
tight enough. No matter how much they preach. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



177 



dun, and scold, it avails nothing. They may talk 
of the justice of their claim, and they in their 
turn will think, and even talk, of the justice of 
their claim on their pastor's services. 

When I first traveled on this circuit we had 
only five meeting-houses ; three of them were 
very good for those days, and two smaller ones ; 
but no parsonage, and hardly any thought of having 
such a thing. And now we have eight good meet- 
ing-houses, and still two small ones ; the old meet- 
ing-houses having either been rebuilt, or much 
improved. There is also a pretty good parsonage 
and lot ; but we very much need another.* 

Our week-day preaching was mostly in private 
houses, and these houses were sometimes crowded. 
We had a gracious work, particularly among pro- 
fessors of religion. In many of the classes there 
was a great concern for a deeper work of grace, 
and some professed to be renewed in love, or 
filled with perfect love, and I have no reason to 
doubt that they enjoyed the blessing. 

Here I became acquainted with William Lynch, 
one of the first American preachers. He had been 
in the traveling connection, and no doubt had been 
very useful in early times. I thought him a man 
of good preaching abilities, and rather uncommon 

* Since this was written, a very comfortable house, heretofore 
occupied by one of the preachers of the circuit, with a good gar- 
den, has been left to the church, by the will of brother John Sum- 
wait, of Reisterstown. 

12 



178 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



conversational powers. I was very much delight- 
ed to hear him converse, particularly on hohness. 
He died that year, and had a severe conflict in his 
last sickness. I visited him frequently in his 
affliction; and it is believed he came off victorious 
in the end. He was a native of Baltimore 
county. 

While on this circuit I also became acquainted 
with another old soldier of the cross, namely, James 
O. Crummell. He was with Freeborn Garrettson in 
Nova Scotia after the revolutionary war ; and his 
labors and sufferings had been great. He was 
an humble, sweet-spirited old man ; though his 
mind was very much impaired, and he the mere 
shadow of what he had been. He still preached 
occasionally. He now rests from his labors, and 
is free from all his infirmities. We must all 
wait patiently until our appointed time comes ; 
but it is rather desirable than otherwise to 

" Cease at once to work and live.*' 

I take great pleasure in noticing these old 
pioneers that fell in my way ; and had I then 
thought that it would ever fall to my lot to write 
anything respecting them, I should have been 
prepared to furnish more instructive and enter- 
taining anecdotes. 

Most sincerely, your affectionate brother, 

Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



179 



LETTER XXI. 

Dear Brother, — I send you, as a part of my 
narrative, a short and imperfect sketch of an old 
Methodist family. I feel myself not only incom- 
petent, but unworthy, to touch such subjects ; but 
my motives are pure, and my intentions are 
good. 

In the last of April, 1800, the night before the 
Baltimore Annual Conference began, at the Stone 
Chapel, in Baltimore circuit, I, in company with 
Daniel Hitt, and others from the west, came to 
Robert North Carnan's house. It was late when 
we came in ; and, although they were already 
crowded, they took us in for the night. There 
we found Bishop Asbury, Richard Whatcoat, 
Jesse Lee, Joseph Everett, Daniel Hall, and 
others. I was struck at once with the hospitality 
of the family. Brother Carnan v/as all attention 
to the preachers ; our meek-spirited sister Carnan 
moved among them with a cheerful countenance ; 
and little Betsey, their daughter, was all animation 
and delight ; for that dear family were never better 
pleased than when they had the preachers with 
them. 

Mr. Carnan took an active part in our revolu- 
tionary struggle. Toward the close of the war, 
Mrs. Carnan attended Methodist preaching, and 
was awakened to a sense of her sinfulness and 



180 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



danger, and attached herself as a seeker of religion 
to that despised society. One day, in a class 
meeting, Edward Owens, one of the first American 
preachers, examined her closely respecting the 
witness of the Spirit. She was very much hurt, 
as she thought he knew she did not profess it. 
She was tempted to think he did not treat her 
well. But, on reflection, concern for her soul in- 
creased, and conviction was deepened in her heart. 
She sought with all her heart, and found redemp- 
tion through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness 
of her sins. The consolation was strong, and her 
joy was great. She lived a shining light, and 
died a peaceful death. Mr. C. was too considerate 
and kind a husband to oppose his wife in anything 
that w^as reasonable, especially where conscience 
was concerned. He, however, thought he could 
jest and laugh her out of these strange notions ; 
but while he was trying to laugh Methodism out 
of his wife's head, it gradually and almost imper- 
ceptibly found way into his heart, and he became 
seriously concerned about his soul ; and, what in- 
creased his distress, he was at that time concerned 
in a famous horse-race ; for he was a man of the 
world, and fond of the sports of the tnrf He did 
not see how he could back out ; and in going for- 
ward he had an awakened conscience to contend 
with. I do not know how he finally settled this 
matter between interest, honor, and an enlightened 
conscience ; but in this state of perplexity and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



181 



distress of mind he consulted his parson, (for he 
was a member of the Church of England,) told 
him that he wished to save his soul and get to 
heaven, and inquired what he should do to be 
saved. The parson gave him a moral lecture, and 
directed him to the means of grace, &c. ; and then 
told him if he would do these things he was sure 
of heaven ; and, it seems, added, " If there is any- 
thing more in religion, I do not know it." Mr. 
C.'s mind was already too much enlightened to 
rest in these outward things," and he thirsted to 
find solid rest to his soul. Pie Avas led to the cross 
of his Saviour ; and there he believed with the 
heart unto righteousness, and found peace with 
God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. His evi- 
dence of this gi^acious change was bright, his con- 
fidence was strong, and his heart was full of love 
to overflowing. This great change took place at 
the close of the revolutionary war. The parson 
came to dine with Mr. C, and brought the news 
of peace with England. When they were seated 
at the dinner table, the parson said, " Mr. Carnan, 
have you heard the glorious news of peace 
" No," said Mr. C. ; " but I have found peace to 
my soul ; peace with God ; and you don't know 
anything about this, for you told me so." This 
went like a dagger to the poor parson's heart ; and 
he laid down his knife and fork, and ate no din- 
ner. This would be considered rather impolite, 
if not rude, in our day. But the first Methodists 



182 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



were a little impolite in this thing. The doctrine 
of justification by faith alone, without the deeds 
of the law, was so new to them, and the glorious 
plan of salvation by faith in Christ was to them 
so simple and plain, and so well suited to a sin- 
ner's condition, and the evidence of their conver- 
sion was generally so bright, and their love so 
strong — that they would be talking about it every- 
where, and to every one they met with ; and where 
they could not talk about their religion they would 
not go ; or if business called them into company, 
they went away as soon as it was done. 

The news of these strange things soon reached 
the ears of Mr. C.'s mother, (then Mrs. Johnson,) 
and was a source of affliction to her. She sent 
her trusty son Charles, in all haste, to reclaim her 
deluded son Robert ; and, if possible, cure him of 
his Methodism. When he came to the house, the 
door was shut ; for Mr. Robert Carnan and his wife 
were gone to a Methodist meeting. Mr. Charles 
Carnan no doubt looked strange, and felt still 
stranger, while he said, " This looks like Method- 
ism, sure enough;" but still, having hope of suc- 
cess, he waited until they returned. The brothers 
met in the yard. Robert said to Charles, " O bro- 
ther Charles, I never was so glad to see you in 
all my life !" and threw his arms around his neck, 
and wept for joy. Presently he began to tell his 
brother how great things the Lord had done for 
him. Charles was disarmed and conquered at 



AN OLD ITmERANT. 



183 



once. I do not know what further took place be- 
tween the two brothers ; but Charles returned 
home, and no doubt with a full heart. The mother 
was all anxiety to hear how Charles had succeeded. 
In my imagination I see the old lady, and hear her 
say, " Well, Charles, what success ?" Charles, 
with a sad countenance, says, O, ma. Bob is 
right." The same as to say. We are all wrong, 
and Bob is right. This was worse and worse. 
To send one son to cure another of Methodism, 
and he to come back deeply infected with the same 
disease. About this time K. N. Carnan and Caleb 
Bosley attached themselves to the Methodist So- 
ciety : perhaps they joined the same day. Brother 
Carnan soon began to pray in public, and exhort 
his neighbors and acquaintances to seek the Lord ; 
and he and his yoke-fellow, brother Bosley, went 
far and near to hold meetings. David Gorsuch, 
some time after this, joined the little band; and 
great good was done through their instrumentality. 

I believe brother C. was one of the first in Bal- 
timore county who liberated his slaves ; and he 
did it from a sense of duty. We then had no rule 
on the subject of slavery. One of the oldest 
American preachers said to me one day, " We did 
more good, and got more slaves free, when we had 
no rules about it, than we have done since we 
have had rules f and this brother never owned a 
slave in his life. 

Brother C. was a man of a good sound mind. 



184 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



and of sterling worth. He was very zealous in 
the cause of God, and gave a very fine tone to 
Methodism in Baltimore county. He must have 
been an exhorter, class-leader, and steward, for 
more than fifty years ; and did more for Method- 
ism than any other man in Baltimore county. He 
might be called the father of Baltimore circuit. 
In 1802 he lost his excellent wife — a great loss 
indeed ; not only to him and his children, but to 
the society and neighborhood. He afterward 
married the wddow Ennals^ of the Eastern Shore 
of Maryland. 

In the spring of 1806 I was appointed to the 
Baltimore circuit. I came on deeply impressed 
with the necessity of entire sanctification. I soon 
found my way to brother C.'s, and rejoiced to learn 
that sister C. professed to enjoy the blessing of 
perfect love ; and, although brother C. did not pro- 
fess to enjoy that blessing in its fullness, yet I 
thought he lived up to it. To these dear friends 
I opened my mind freely and fully, and they were 
like Aquila and Pris cilia to me ; they taught me 
the way of the Lord more perfectly ; and I always 
found it both pleasant and profitable to be with 
them. Brother Carnan had his crosses and trials, 
but who ever heard him complain of them ? This 
was a remarkable trait in his character. He bore 
his burdens without complaint, and spread them 
all before the Lord. After the death of his second 
wife, and his beloved daughter Betsey, he gradu- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



185 



ally sunk under the weight of affliction and age. 
I saw him about ten days before his death, still 
holding fast his confidence, and patiently waiting 
till his change should come. We were not appre- 
hensive of immediate danger ; but the next time 
I heard of him he had finished his course. Betsey 
Carnan was made a subject of converting grace 
in early life, and was truly pious ; of a delicate 
constitution, and a child of affliction. She was 
intelligent, of a lively and cheerful disposition, 
communicative and animated in conversation, very 
fond of books, and had a great stock of informa- 
tion. She was a great admirer of Dr. Clarke's 
Commentary. I heard her say, " If I were obliged 
to part with Dr. Clarke's Commentary, or all the 
other books in the world, I would say, Give me 
Dr. Clarke and take all the rest." She was never 
married. She sufiered a great deal in her last 
affliction ; but the consolations of religion were her 
support through life and in death. I am indebted 
to brother Joshua Wells* for the most interesting 
part of this sketch. He was Mr. C.'s storekeeper, 
and lived in the family at the time of their con- 
version, and found peace the night after Mrs. 
Carnan' s happy conversion.! 

^ The Kev. J. Wells, of the Baltimore Conference. — Ed. 

t The senior editor had the happiness to be acquainted 
with the family, whose memory is so precious to brother 
Smith. In the years 1800 and 1801, during a great revival 
of religion, it was a common thing for all, who in that 



186 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



Martin Tschudj's was one of our preaching 
places in Baltimore circuit, where we had a large 
class. Here the preachers had one of their best 
homes. Father T. was a man of few words, but 
as honest and steady as the day was long. Mother 

neighborhood were under concern about the salvation of 
their souls, to gather, of evenings, at father Carnan's, 
" where prayer was wont to be made and a great num- 
ber found the pearl of great price. When any were 
kno^^Ti to have been at Robert Carnan's, their worldly ac- 
quaintances gave them up as " clean gone and so gene- 
rally did this opinion obtain, that among the ungodly his 
domicil went by the familiar soubriquet of " the trap ;" for 
their companions were almost sure to be caught in the gos- 
pel net if they frequented it. The first thing which struck 
a stranger, upon visiting this family, was the patriarchal air 
of everything he saw. Here was everything for comfort, 
but nothing for show. The farm was large, and wonder- 
fully productive ; so that there was abundance for the sup- 
ply of both man and beast ; and from the heads of the 
family to the humblest domestic, all seemed to consider 
hospitality as a leading concern in tlieir an'angements ; 
while the venerable patriarch, the "pater familias," the 
father of the family, with a countenance always cheerful, 
and expressing the inward peace and satisfaction of his 
soul, inspired all who beheld him with coiTesponding feel- 
ings. We used to look on him with a veneration wholly 
indescribable ; but it was such as would have impressed 
us, had we been present when Jacob blessed his children. 
We longed that he should lay his hand upon us, and bless 
us also ; and we feel, even now. that he is gathered to his 
kindred patriarchs in heaven, something the richer, that he 
often did bless us, and pray that we might be faithful to 
the end. — Edit, of Christ. Adv. and Jour. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



187 



T. was one of the excellent of the earth ; deeply 
experienced in the things of God, and a mother to 
the preachers. Their daughter Barbara was the 
preachers' nurse when sick, and much devoted to 
God. This family was a pattern of order, neat- 
ness, piety, and hospitality. At the General Con- 
ference, in 1800, I saw Charles Burgeon, one of 
the members of conference, then pretty well worn 
down by hard labor and affliction. Seriousness, 
bordering on sadness, was depicted in his coun- 
tenance. He put up with this pious family in his 
affliction, where he was nursed and taken care of. 
He was subject to dejection, and severe temptation, 
but the grace of God was all-sufficient. Under 
the hospitable roof of this excellent family he met 
the last enemy, and conquered ; and he will ulti- 
mately be proclaimed victorious, through Him who 
is " the resurrection and the life." They buried 
him in the grave-yard, not three hundred yards 
from where I am writing, but no one can point 
out his grave with any certainty. No matter, the 
Lord knows where his ashes rest in peace, and 
he will find him " in the great rising day." Bar- 
bara first followed the preacher. Father Tschudy 
sufiered much, with great patience, and went hence 
also. The dear old mother suffered and labored 
until a few years past, finished her heavenly race, 
and left the world in great peace. 

Joseph Perregoy was leader of the class at 
Tschudy's for many years. He lived upward of 



188 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



eighty years, had been a member of the church 
more than fifty years, and was a man of unblem- 
ished character and deep piety. The few last 
years of his life his mind was entirely gone on 
every subject but religion. He went to the house 
of God as long as he was able ; and though a child 
in everything else, in class meeting and love-feast, 
and when called upon to pray, he was still like 
himself. We buried him a few weeks ago. He 
was beloved by the pious, respected by all in life, 
and honored in death. Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXII. 

Dear Brother, — You have been much better 
and longer acquainted with the families and per- 
sons noticed in the following communication than 
I have, and can easily correct me where I am 
wrong. 

On October the 7th, 1806, I left brother Car- 
nan's, in company with D. Hitt, our presiding 
elder, sister Betsey Carnan, and others, to attend 
a camp meeting, to be held on Mr. Kell's (now 
Mr. King's) land, near the Bellair road, and for 
the first time saw Perry Hall, the seat of Harry 
Dorsey Gough, Esq. When we got in sight of 
the house, (and it could be seen afar off,) I felt 
some strange sensations. I had often been happy, 
and felt myself quite at home in log cabins, but I 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



189 



did not know how I should feel in that great 
house. I had seen Mr. and Mrs. Gough, but 
had no acquaintance with them. I felt myself, 
however, somewhat at ease in company with 
Miss Carnan : her father and Mrs. Gough were 
cousins. We were received in their usual warm 
and affectionate way, and I was for the first time 
introduced to that dear family. I soon found that 
religion, in its native simplicity, dwelt in some 
great houses, and that some of the rich had been 
cast in the gospel mold, and came out in the 
image and likeness of their Lord. Perry Hall 
was the largest dwelling house I had ever seen ; 
and all the arrangements within and without were 
tasteful and elegant, yet simplicity and utility 
seemed to be stamped upon the whole. The gar- 
den — containing four acres of ground, orchards, 
and everything else — was delightful indeed, 
and looked to me like an earthly paradise. But 
what pleased me better than anything else, I 
found a neat chapel attached to the house, with a 
small cupola, and bell that could be heard all over 
the farm. In this chapel morning and evening 
prayers were offered to God. The bell rang about 
half an hour before prayer, when the manager, 
and servants from the farm-house and servants' 
quarters, and garden, together with the inhabitants 
of the great mansion-house, repaired to the chapel, 
and sometimes we had fifty persons at prayers. 
And no wonder, when the whole family consisted 



190 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



of a hundred souls, including children, or perhaps 
upward. So large and well-regulated a family I 
never saw. All seemed to know their place, and 
dutj, and did it. For some reasons we had 
prayers in the parlor that night, and it was a 
solemn time. When we rose from prayers all took 
their seats, and were silent. I was led to talk a 
little of the excellence of religion, and the beauty 
of holiness. All were attentive, and some wept ; 
I believe Mr. Gough was in tears. After I was 
done he came to me, and took my hand in both 
his, and expressed himself pleased ; and from that 
hour I felt myself at home at Perry Hall. As I 
have begun to write about this excellent family I 
will carry it out. Mr. and JVIrs. Gough were both 
awakened under Mr. Asbury's preaching, and they 
claimed him as their spiritual father. Mr. Gough 
was young, rich, and gay in disposition, and no 
doubt in appearance also. But he went, in com- 
pany with others, to hear that strange man, who 
preached that men might know their sins forgiven. 
Mr. Gough said, " The first time I heard him 
preach I said to myself, when he was done, If you 
are right, I am wrong ; but I will hear you again : 
the second time I heard him I said. You are right, 
and I am wrong ; and I resolved from that hour to 
renounce the sinful pleasures of the world, and 
become a Christian in earnest ; and I never rested 
until I found the Lord in the pardon of my sins." 
The witness of his justification by faith was satis- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



191 



factory, and he rejoiced abundantly in the God of 
his salvation. Mrs. Gough was powerfully awak- 
ened under the first sermon she heard Mr. As- 
bury preach ; I say awakened, because it was the 
language commonly made use of by the early 
Methodists. The bishop said to me one day at 
Perry Hall, " She came in as gay as a butterfly, 
and I took notice when the word took hold of her." 
And no doubt the word sunk deep into her heart, 
and the work was genuine, and well done, and 
terminated in a sound conversion; for these two 
young, rich, and gay people, renounced the world, 
and became members of the first Methodist class 
organized in Baltimore. The society was small, 
and withal " very unpopular," and much persecu- 
ted, and these young converts shared with the rest. 
They suffered not a little persecution for con- 
science' sake in the revolutionary war. I believe 
Mr. Gough was never cast into prison for preach- 
ing, (for he preached occasionally then,) but he 
was haled before the court, as were several others 
from Baltimore. I forget how he got off*. They 
raised but one child, a daughter, and a lovely child 
she must have been. Mrs. Gough said, " I never 
suffered my child to go into company where I 
could not go with her ; or join in any amusements 
that I could not join in." When she began to 
grow up she went with her mother to Col. H's. 
The young people were greatly delighted with 
her, and entreated the mother to let Miss Sophia 



192 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



stay with them, at least one night. She consented 
for the first time to leave her daughter in gay 
company, though with reluctance. When Mrs. 
G. was gone, the card-table was brought forward, 
and Miss Sophia was of course invited to join in 
the amusement, for they only played to pass away 
time. She excused herself by saying she did not 
know how to play ; and no wonder, when this was 
the first pack of cards she had ever seen. " Well," 
said one of the company, "if you can't play you 
must cut the cards for us ; you must do some- 
thing." But she knew as little about cutting 
cards as about playing them, and replied, "That 
I could do, if I had a pair of scissors." This cre- 
ated mirth, and some laughter. The young lady 
blushed, and was somewhat confused. The colo- 
nel came forward in her defense, and passed some 
high compliments on her and her pious mother ; 
and afterward told Mrs. Gough, that he could not 
have thought it possible to bring up a child of her 
family and fortune so perfectly ignorant of the 
fashionable amusements of the day. So, then, 
consistent Christians will be respected, even by 
the people of the world. Their daughter was 
married long before I became acquainted with the 
family. Her husband, James Carroll, Esq., was 
a gentleman, and among the most affectionate 
husbands and fathers I ever saw. He was not a 
Methodist, but a member of the Protestant E. 
Church. I do not know by what means Mrs. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 193 

Carroll was brought to a sense of the exceeding 
sinfulness of sin. Although so moral and reli- 
giously educated, her conviction of sin was deep 
and her distress great. She sought the Lord ear- 
nestly in the use of all the means of grace, but 
found no relief. One day she thought she would 
sing a hymn, and play the tune on the pianoforte. 
I think the hymn she sung was " Come, thou 
Fount of every blessing," &c., and while thus en- 
gaged the Holy Comforter descended, brought 
peace to her troubled soul, and wrote pardon upon 
her heart. Unbelief gave way, doubts and fears 
fled before the heavenly light that penetrated her 
inmost soul, and peace and love sprung up in that 
heart that had long been the abode of sorrow and 
fear. She ran in haste to bear the joyful tidings 
to her parents. They embraced their heaven- 
born daughter ; Mr. Gough shouted aloud ; Mrs. 
Gough wept for joy: who but Christians can 
know the joy of these three happy souls ? Their 
only child, a child so worthy of their affections 
and solicitude, a child of much care and many 
prayers, so happily converted to God. I have 
known scores to be converted while the friends of 
Jesus were singing the songs of Zion around them, 
and some while joining in those songs ; but this is 
the first and only one that I ever heard of getting 
converted over an instrument of music. But 
surely no one would infer from this solitary case 
that instruments of music ought to be introduced 

18 



194 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



into the house of God to get mourners converted. 
"But," says one, "this never was the intention 
of such music in the house of God." "What then ? 

In the spring of 1807 I was appointed to Fells 
Point (now Great Falls) circuit. Perry Hall 
was one of our week-day preaching places, where 
we had two classes, one of whites, and a colored 
class. The Perry Hall family held their mem- 
bership in the city, but contributed largely toward 
the support of the preachers on the circuit. They 
spent their summers only at Perry Hall. 

At the camp meeting I have alluded to, a gra- 
cious work broke out among a people most of 
whom lived in what was called Gen. Pidgeley's 
wood-cuttings. They were mostly poor people. 
We had a pretty large class there. John Buck, 
Esq., was their leader, and he was as a father to 
them. For many years he has been an active 
steward in the circuit. He is still living ; I saw him 
last summer [1841] at a camp meeting, very feeble 
in body, but still pursuing his heavenly course. 
We preached at Isaac Walters', in what might be 
called a log cabin. I have not forgotten my first 
visit to that society. When the hour for preach- 
ing drew near, Mr. Gough rode up on horseback, 
and his family in a coach drawn by four splendid 
white horses. Some of this was new to me. I 
had preached in many a log cabin, and had often 
seen people come to meeting in their buckskin 
hunting shirts, and moccasins, and often barefooted ; 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



195 



but never before had I seen people drive up 
in a coacb and four to hear a backwoods preacher 
in a log cabin. I gave out for my text, " Ho, 
every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," 
&c. ; and the good Spirit of the Lord descended 
upon us like showers of rain upon the mown grass. 
All were in tears ; and Mr. Gough and his lady 
wept as freely as any of them. This is no new 
thing to you, my dear doctor, for I have seen you 
weep like a child under very plain preaching. 
We had a happy class meeting, of course. At the 
close of the meeting Mr. Gough and his wife took 
these poor people by the hand, with great cordi- 
ality, and rejoiced with and over them. A vol- 
ume of comments on " Mind not high things, but 
condescend to men of low estate " Let the 
brother of low degree rejoice in that he is ex- 
alted ; but the rich in that he is made low," could 
not have made it so plain to me as the scene that 
was passing before my eyes. Here I saw perfect 
equality in Christ in the house of God. But 
these dear people were so humble as to think that 
they were not in every respect Mr. and Mrs. 
Gough's equals, or fit companions for them in com- 
mon life. Their education, their circumstances, 
their callings and habits, all impressed this lesson 
of humility.* Henry Smith. 

* I have dined with some of the poorest of these at Mr. 
Gough's table, when they had called upon him in the way of 
business. When they were employed on the farm as labor- 



196 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



LETTEE XXIII. 

Dear Brother, — Our house was too small 
for our week-day congregations; and what was 
to be done ? One said, " We must have a meet- 
ing-house." They got up a subscription, and 
every one subscribed what he felt able to give ; 
for they seemed to think, that they ought first to 

ers, or as mechanics, they had their meals with the manager. 
This would be thought no condescension in some parts of 
our country; but at that time, and in that community, it 
was thought to eyince a humilit}- which only grace could 
impai't 

Mrs. Gough survived her husband for several years, and 
still resided at Perry Hall during the summer seasons. 
During the whole of her widowhood she still held the 
family devotions in the chapel ; and when no praying bro- 
ther was present she performed the services herself But 
when the poorest man in the neighborhood, or who labored 
on her estate, was present, if he was a praying man, he be- 
came her chaplain pro. tem. As her grandchildren grew 
up, they necessarily brought much company to the house. 
The son-in-law was among the wealthiest men of the state; 
and as his family always made apart of the family at Peny 
Hall, the guests were often from among the elite of society. 
Yet our good sister took up" her cross, and invariably as- 
sembled them, night and morning, in the chapel ; although 
she was under the necessity of being her own chaplain. 
O, she was an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile ! 
All — all she had — her fortune, her soul and body's pow- 
ers," were consecrated to the service of God. — Editor of 
Cbistian Adv. and Jour, 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



197 



do what they could themselves before they called 
on theu' neighbors for help. When Mr. Gough 
heard of it, he went to them, and said, " Take 
what you have subscribed, and build a school- 
house to school your children, and I will get you 
a meeting-house." General Ridgely, of Hampton, 
Mrs. Gough's brother, gave them an acre of 
ground for a meeting-house and burying-place ; 
and deeded it to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
They set about the work in good earnest. Brother 
John Buck superintended the work from first to 
last. Mr. Gough advanced the money, and paid 
all expenses; and by fall they had a very 
neat, well-finished log meeting-house, quite large 
enough for the neighborhood. Mr. Gough called 
it " Camp-meeting Chapel," to keep in memory the 
conversion of these people at the camp meeting ; 
which gave rise to the effort to build a meeting- 
house. I had the pleasure of dedicating it to 
the service of God ; and I believe there has 
been regular preaching in it ever since. During 
the last two summers they have had camp meet- 
ing near the chapel. At the last, in September, 
1841, it was estimated that one hundred and sixty 
souls were converted, and many behevers quick- 
ened. 

Mr. Gough was liberal, and had the means to 
be so. He not only gave when called upon, 
but he sought out objects of charity. He said to 
me, " One day, as I was passing by Gatches 



198 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Meeting-house, I saw the house was unfinished. 
It came into my mind that it was for want of 
means. I rode up to the house and inquired, and 
was told that they had the means, but had neglect- 
ed to use them ; and as I rode back to the road 
the Lord poured out such a blessing mto my soul, 
and I felt so very happy, that I had a heart to do 
something for the Lord." Some rich men could 
pass by such a house many times, and always feel 
happy if they were not called upon to give any- 
thing to finish it. 

Mr. Gough was generous, but Mrs. Gough even 
excelled him in liberality. A short time before 
she died, she said to me, "My giving time will 
soon be over. I '11 give, while I have it to give." 
That was truly a Christian sentiment, and worthy 
to be written on every Christian's heart. Our 
giving and doing time will soon be over ; and 
what we leave behind may fall into hands by whom 
not a cent of it will be given to the Lord; who 
only intrusted it to us, to make good use of while 
we have it. 

In the spring of 1808, on my way to the Gene- 
ral Conference in Baltimore, I met a brother at 
EUicott's Mills, who told me that Mr. Gough was 
dead. I could hardly believe it, but pushed ahead, 
and had my lodging appointed with my old friend, 
WilHam Ashman. I had not been there long 
before I was sent for by Bishop Asbury, who had 
just returned from the funeral, and said, " Mrs. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



199 



Grough wishes to see you and he urged me to 
go without delay. I went to the house of mourn- 
ing with a heavy heart. Ah, it was the house of 
mourning, indeed ! Mrs. Gough was severely 
smitten ; but it was by the hand of her heavenly 
Father. She was truly cast down, but not de- 
stroyed; mournful, yet rejoicing in hope of a 
reunion in a better world. She told me her dear 
Mr. Gough often shouted glory to God on his 
dying bed ; and made a most triumphant exit out 
of a world of sorrow and pain, into a world of 
light and glory. She thought my feeble labors, 
under God, proved such a blessing to him, that 
it prepared him for such a happy death ; and to 
leave her, she said, was out of the question. I 
was as well satisfied with my lodging as I could 
be : but to refuse to gratify an afficted mother in 
Israel, under such circumstances, would have 
been cruel ; and from that time her house was my 
home when in Baltimore, as long as she lived. I 
saw her a few days before her death. She was 
not in triumph, yet humbly and confidently wait- 
ing till her change came. 

Betsey Cassell, a preacher's widow, her faithful 
companion, was with her to the last. Some peo- 
ple marveled that she did not leave the world 
shouting ; but it never staggered me in the least ; 
for she was not of that east of mind. Those who 
are created anew in Christ Jesus, and live right, 
are sure to die safe, no matter whether their sun 



200 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



sets fair or under a cloud. She was bold and 
zealous in the cause of God, yet humble and un- 
assuming. I frequently heard her say, " I have 
much severity in my nature.'^ That might have 
been so ; but it was seasoned by grace. She 
seemed to have little patience with professors of 
religion, who seemed to be ashamed of their 
religion before the people of the world. She 
never prayed in public till after Mr. Gough's 
death. But when she could get no one to pray 
with her large family, she took up the cross, read 
a chapter, and gave out a hymn, which was sung, 
(for she could not sing herself,) and prayed, and 
so led the worship of God in her family, no matter 
who was present. She was a woman of firmness, 
uncommon fortitude, and moral courage. The 
very day of the battle of North Point, I preached 
to a few old men, and some females, at the Camp 
Chapel. She made one of our congregation. 
The report of the guns was heard very plainly 
while I was preaching, and the bombs were heard 
at Perry Hall, twelve miles from Baltimore, 
nearly all the night. It was an awful night. 
Fears were entertained that the enemy would 
take Baltimore, and overrun and plunder that 
part of the country. She resolved to send away a 
part of her family, and stay at home herself ; and 
if the enemy came, to go out and meet the officers, 
and plead her own cause. She said to me, "I 
want no one to go with me but you ; you must 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



201 



stay with me ; you must not leave me." But the 
good Lord heard prayer, and saved the city. I 
rode down to Baltimore the day after the British 
had returned to their ships ; and it was in the 
mouth of almost every one, saint and sinner, 
"The prayers of the good people of Baltimore 
saved the city." 

Taking Mrs. Gough for all and all, she certain- 
ly was a Christian of a high grade. Always plain 
in dress; plain, yet dignified, in her manners; a 
decided Methodist, but a lover of good people of 
every denomination, she set an example worthy 
of imitation. To me she was like a mother for 
many years ; and I think myself honored to be 
permitted to recall, and record her example. 

Mrs. Carroll, her daughter, never went to 
dancing-school ; never went to a theatre, or a ball. 
Yet she was an accomplished lady ; and, what is 
still better, she was a meek and humble Christian 
— a sincere follower of Christ — often accusing her- 
self, and mourning when I thought she ought to 
be rejoicing ; but her end was most triumphant. 
Methodism still hves in some of the branches of 
this dear family. And if Methodism is, what Dr. 
Chalmers called it, " Christianity in earnest," no 
one need be ashamed of it. Mrs. Carroll's grand- 
daughter, the great-grand-daughter of Mrs. Gough, 
is the wife of the Eev. T. B. Sargent, of the Bal- 
timore Conference. Mrs. Sargent's mother was 
one of the excellent of the earth, and a true- 



202 



KECOLLECTIONS OP 



hearted Methodist. She was not only a mother 
in her family, but a mother in Israel. She has 
been recently called away, at a short warning, but 
she was one of those who are always ready. I 
was frequently in Baltimore at the time when 
she and her sister, Mrs. Harry Carroll, embraced 
religion, and attached themselves to the M. E. 
Church. I never can forget their honest simpli- 
city and sincerity, and Mrs. Gough's solicitude 
about her nieces, who were her grand-daughters 
by marriage. 

Mrs. Harry Carroll said, " When the mourners 
were called to the altar, I felt the need of religioD, 
and want of it ; but my nerves were already so 
much alFected, that I thought it was useless for 
me to go, and concluded to stay away. But, on 
reflection, thought, I want religion, but have a 
proud heart. It may humble my pride, and 
show the world that I am in earnest about reli- 
gion." And she went. It is true she did not find 
peace then, but found it shortly afterward. Those 
who are willing to get religion anywhere, and have 
it at any sacrifice, and on any terms, are sure to 
find it. Mrs. Harry Carroll was a conscientious, 
humble, and sincere Christian. I visited her in 
her last sickness. Though naturally timid and 
fearful, she was, in view of death and eternity, 
as serene and calm as a summer's morning ; for 
Christ was her sure and only trust. She enjoyed 
the sweetest consolations of religion in this trying 



AN OLD ITINEKANT. 



203 



hour, left the world in peace, and no doubt was 
carried to Abraham's bosom. 

I would here remark, that, at the time of Mrs. 
Carroll's conversion, we had not yet learned the 
art of getting people converted at the altar, with- 
out "excitement ;" and it still so happens that when 
we southern people get " deeply interested " on the 
subject of religion, we also get somewhat excited. 

I am, more than ever, your obliged friend and 
brother, Henry SmiH. 



LETTER XXIY. 

Dear Brother, — I am sorry that I am so 
poorly quahfied to give a correct account of the 
formation of Baltimore circuit, or the introduction 
of Methodism into Baltimore county. I can, how- 
ever, say something about things as I found them. 
When I was first appointed to it, I was personally 
acquainted with many of the first converts to Me- 
thodism, and had frequent coversations with them ; 
and perhaps know as much about them as any 
one now living, that is disposed to record their 
excellent example. Perhaps some of their chil- 
dren, or grandchildren, or great-grandchildreu, 
may see this sketch, and remember the God of 
their fathers, and not be ashamed of that excellent 
form of Christianity which was so dear to their 
parents, and from which they derived so much 



204 



EEC0LLECTI02S'S OF 



comfort and support in life ; and which opened to 
them a glorious prospect of immortality and eter- 
nal life. I begin in my immediate neighborhood. 
Samuel Merryman, senior, was, I believe, the first 
convert to Methodism in this neighborhood. I was 
personally acquainted with the good old man. He 
was upward of eighty years of age when I first saw 
him, but yet an active, cheerful man, for his age. 
In my recollection, I still see him jogging to meet- 
ing on his old horse Dobbin. He had been rather 
a bigoted high-churchman. He went either on 
business, or on a visit to his friends in Pipe 
Creek, about twenty-five or thirty miles from his 
residence, where he heard of " a wonderful preach- 
er, that could pray and preach without a book." 
That was a marvelous thing in those days, particu- 
larly in this neighborhood. For a man to " pray 
without a book," or preach without reading his ser- 
mon, was a new thing. This wonderful man was 
Robert Strawbridge, a local preacher, from Ire- 
land ; and I believe the first Methodist preacher 
that came to Maryland. Mr. Merryman went to 
hear this strange man ; and the word found way 
to his heart. After service he expressed his as- 
tonishment to his friends, that the man could pray 
and preach so well without a book. His friends 
told him that was nothing to what he could do. 
They thought it rather a feeble performance for 
him; but to Mr. M. it was the greatest and best 
sermon he had ever heard ; for the word brought 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



205 



conviction of the exceeding sinfulness of sin to his 
heart, and his conscience was awakened to a sense 
of his danger. Under these impressions he re- 
turned home ; but could find no rest to his soul. 
He went to hear the preacher again, and his mind 
was still more enlightened. I do not recollect 
under what circumstances he found peace to his 
troubled mind ; but the Lord was pleased to man- 
ifest himself to his soul in the pardon of his sins, 
to shed abroad his precious love in his heart, and 
to impart the witness of the Spirit that the work 
was of God — and consequently well done. - The 
old Methodists were great people for the witness 
of the Spirit. Nothing short of this would satisfy 
them. 

In the summer of 1820 I rode some miles in 
company with Bishop M'Kendree to see the place 
where a meeting-house had been built for Mr. 
Strawbridge. Some of the logs were still there, 
and sound. This was the first Methodist meet- 
ing-house in Maryland, and the second in Amer- 
ica. After Mr. Merryman had found the pearl 
of great price himself, he wished his neighbors to 
share with him in his joys, and invited Mr. Straw- 
bridge to come to his house, and preach Christ to 
his family and neighbors. The preacher readily 
obeyed the call, and preached the first Methodist 
sermon in this neighborhood at Mr. Merryman's 
house ; and it became a house of God, and a 
preachers' home for many years. About this 



206 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



time, Amon Price, a near neighbor, and brother-in- 
law of Mr. Merryman, was converted, and became 
the leader of the first class organized here. Mr. M. 
lost his wife, and Mr. Strawbridge was sent for to 
preach her funeral sermon. He had a large and 
serious congregation. AYhen I came on the cir- 
cuit, the house of Caleb Merryman (a son of the 
old man) was the preachers' home in this neigh- 
borhood : and I have no doubt, doctor, but you re- 
member the hospitality and kindness of that dear 
family. If ever I saw a family that was hospita- 
ble and kind to preachers and others to excess, 
and to their injury, it was Caleb Merryman's. 
The old people have both gone to their reward 
long since, and the family are scattered far and 
wide, but Methodism is still perpetuated in the 
family ; and I hope it will remain in its simplicity 
and purity while there is one of the name. 

From this place we go to Taylor's. Joseph 
Taylor was the Methodist patriarch in that neigh- 
borhood. His wife's maiden name was Gatch, 
and was sister to Philip Gatch. Brother Taylor 
and his wife both embraced religion under the 
first Methodist preachers, when they were quite 
young. These two good people were the main 
stay of the society in that neighborhood for many 
years. At first they had preaching in their house, 
and afterward they built a small frame meeting- 
house near their dwelling, where there has been 
week-day preaching ever since. Thursday is their 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



207 



day, and eleven o'clock is their hour. It has been 
so, perhaps, for fifty years, and they never were 
clamorous about having Sunday preaching. It 
has become quite a habit with them to go to 
preaching once in two weeks. Joseph Taylor, 
John Dougherty, and their pious wives, and others, 
gave a character and standing to Methodism here 
that have withstood all the drawbacks and difiicul- 
ties that it has had to contend with. 

Brother Taylor has long since fallen asleep in 
Jesus. I visited his grave last fall, in time of a 
protracted meeting there, and felt free to shed a 
friendly tear over it. I also saw his widow, who 
was still able to fill her seat in chapel. They 
never had any children of their own, but Metho- 
dism still lives in their house and name, and the 
preachers and people of God are as welcome there 
as ever.* Sister Taylor is deeply afflicted, and 
must soon follow her beloved Josey. Whatever 
might have been the opinion of people in early 
days respecting Joseph Taylor and his beloved 
Sally — and they had their portion of reproach — 
they outlived all their enemies. And who now 
that knew Joseph Taylor does not believe that he 
was one of the most honest, upright, and kind- 
hearted Christians that ever lived in this wicked 
world? 

^ A younger brother inherits good old Joseph's premises ; 
and with them his hospitality. It is still a house of prayer. 
— Ed. of Chris. Adv. Jour. 



208 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

From Taylor's we went to Evans's Meeting- 
house, a small frame building, where also they had 
week-day preaching for many years. This must 
have been one of the oldest societies in Baltimore 
county. Here I found brother Stevenson, an old 
local preacher. He had also traveled, as most of 
the local preachers did in early days. He was a 
man of God, and a lover of the doctrine of holi- 
ness. He had been very useful in his day. He 
and Daniel Evans, and Joseph Merryman, and 
others, gave tone to Methodism here, and it still 
lives among their descendants. 

From this appointment we went to Hunt's 
Meeting-house, also an old stand, having been a 
preaching place before the M. E. Church was or- 
ganized. Here Strawbridge, and nearly, if not all, 
the first preachers who traveled in Maryland, had 
preached. The Hunts were among the first who 
"believed and turned to the Lord," when they 
heard the Methodist preachers. If I do not mis- 
take, Phineas Hunt had preaching at his house 
long before they built a meeting-house, and was 
appointed the first leader over the class, and still 
stood so on the class-book at his death. It is 
true, the good old man could do but little toward 
the latter part of life, and had an assistant, but 
the society would not agree to have his relation 
changed. His house had been a preachers' home 
from the time the Methodist preacher first visited 
that neighborhood, and continued so till after his 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



209 



death, when sister Hunt broke up house-keeping ; 
and, although the property has fallen into the 
hands of another branch of the family, (for they 
never had any children,) it is still open for the 
preachers, when they choose to go. P. Hunt was 
a man thoroughly imbued with Maryland hospi- 
tality and brotherly kindness. Sister Hunt was 
one of the neatest house-keepers, and all attention 
to the preachers, and their house could not fail 
of being one of the preachers' best homes ; and what 
preacher ever left their house that did not say so ? 
Bi'other Hunt had the affections and confidence 
of his class, and, indeed, of all his neighbors. I 
never knew a man that loved to talk about ex- 
perimental religion more than father Hunt. What 
preacher or private member was ever in his com- 
pany long but heard him tell " how the Lord had 
brought him ?" This was his usual way of ex- 
pressing himself. And although he had told it 
many hundred times, his heart was so full of it, it 
always seemed new to him, and he never told it 
without emotions of gratitude and praise, and eyes 
overflowing with tears. " How the Lord has 
brought me !" Many of the old Methodists were 
so full of this, that they were really troublesome 
to some people, especially if they could not in 
their turn tell " how the Lord had brought" them 
to the knowledge of the truth ; and they could 
hardly feel satisfied unless they heard their preach- 
ers tell " how the Lord had brought them." Susan 

14 



210 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Hunt, my wife's sister, and sister Hunt's niece, a 
widow who had been married to brother Hunt's 
nephew, had lived in the family for many years, 
and was everything with the old people ; and she 
was worthy of their affections. But alas ! she 
died almost suddenly, which gave the dear old man 
such a shock that he never got over it. Never 
did one mourn more sincerely for an only child, 
than he did for his beloved Susan ; and from that 
time he gradually sunk. His strength, his hearing, 
and his memory, had greatly decayed ; and he died 
five years ago, [1837,] being upward of fourscore 
years old. When he was still able to attend to 
his business, he said to me, one evening, in pre- 
sence of his family, " I have a favor to ask of you, 
and you must not deny me." "What is that, un- 
cle Hunt ?" " I want you to preach my funeral 
sermon when I am gone and he gave me the 
text, " I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have 
not wickedly departed from my God." 

I almost wish he had given me liberty to choose 
the text, for I thought, " Behold an Israelite in- 
deed, in whom there is no guile," would have been 
a more appropriate one. When he was taken 
with his death-sickness, he could not be prevailed 
on to lie down till he had first prayed with his 
family, though he had a severe chill on him. The 
attendance at his funeral was numerous and re- 
spectable, for no one could help loving the good 
v>ld man. Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



211 



LETTEK XXV. 

Dear Brother, — I must trouble you with, 
at least, one or two communications more before 
my busy time comes on, when I shall have to lay 
down my pen, and take up the spade, and turn into 
my garden. 

In the neighborhood of the Stone Chapel, Eobert 
N. Carnan and Cornelius Howard gave character 
and stability to Methodism. These two brethren 
were both stewards of the circuit, and worked to- 
gether for many years like true yoke-fellows. The 
last public act that these two worthies were en- 
gaged in was to repair and improve this chapel, 
where they had worshiped together for so many 
years. 

Shortly after this was done, our brother Car- 
nan was taken from us. Brother Howard is still 
with us, but quite infirm.* 

While on this circuit, I went to Fell's Point 
(now Great Falls) circuit, to assist the preachers 
at a two days' meeting ; and on Sunday evening, 
the 17th of October, 1806, I first visited the fa- 
mily of James Bosley, and saw their daughter 
Rebecca, now my wife. Mrs. Bosley was an early 
convert to Methodism, and a member of the first 
class organized in that neighborhood. But preach- 

=^ Not long after this was written, brother Howard was 
summoned to eternity. He died in peace. 



212 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ing was taken away, and the society was scattered, 
and she was left nearly alone. She, however, 
heard the word as often as she could ; sometimes 
riding fourteen miles, to the Fork Meeting-house, 
to hear a sermon. Sometimes they had preaching 
at their house by some local preachers. Though 
Mrs. Bosley was deprived of the benefits of Chris- 
tian society, and the privilege of meeting regularly 
in class, she was steadfast, though she had little 
help in the way to heaven. In 1799, or 1800, her 
daughter Rebecca was poAverfully awakened under 
the preaching of TJiomas Wilkerson, (my old back- 
woods yoke-fellow,) who was then on the Balti- 
more circuit. While John Bloodgood was travel- 
ing on the Harford circuit, Mrs. Bosley invited 
him to come and preach at their house, and he 
formed a class there. Rebecca had found peace, 
and was happy in the Lord, and had made up 
her mind to join the church ; but, when the invi- 
tation was given, she found it a great cross to go 
up. When she rose to go forward, her father and 
mother had got the start of her, and Avere al- 
ready before the preacher. This was a matter 
of surprise and great joy. 

Mr. Bosley's house became a house of prayer, 
and also a church, where the people met for class 
meetings, and prayer meetings, and preaching, for 
many years. Here the preachers found a plea- 
sant home, even for some years after his death ; 
but ultimately Mrs. Bosley broke up house-keep- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



213 



ing. Mr. Bosley was an hospitable and kind- 
hearted Christian man, and remarkably fond of 
the preachers' society. Sometimes he had nearly 
a house full of them. He was leader of the class 
for many years. But a stroke of palsy reduced 
him to a mere child before he died. Mrs. Bosley 
was an humble, meek-spirited, quiet Christian ; 
never loud in profession, but consistent and up- 
right in her deportment. " In her tongue was the 
law of kindness." She had for many years been 
a child of affliction, but suffered with humble sub- 
mission to the will of God ; and left the world in 
great peace a few years after I married into the 
family. She was an excellent mother, and her 
children have cause to respect her memory. 

The preachers in former days needed such 
homes much more than they do now, when so 
many have homes of their own; such old Me- 
thodist preachers' harbors, as the people 
Vised to call them in derision, in gone-by days, 
when it was thought a reproach, if not an offense, 
against society, in some neighborhoods, to harbor a 
Methodist preacher. But such old harbors are 
gratefully recollected by some of the old preachers, 
where they could rest awhile^ and get their clothes 
washed and mended ; or, as Mr. Asbury used to 
call it, " get refitted'' Under Mr. Bosley's roof 
many a weary pilgrim found shelter, and was 
made welcome and happy; strangers as well as 
others. 



214 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



In those days we rode hard and late to get to 
one of these harbors, when on a journey to or from 
conference. We had several good reasons for it. 
One was, we had but little money to spend at a 
tavern. Another was, we had but little peace 
when we were compelled to put in at those places 
that were called taverns. I have, sometimes, 
when I had good company, and was provided 
with provision, and corn for my horse, preferred 
sleeping in the woods, to putting into some hole 
of a place called a tavern. I have traveled from 
Chilicothe to Baltimore, on less than five dollars. 
But, through the kind workings of Providence, 
things have greatly changed for the better. 

About this time I received a letter from Bishop 
Asbury ; the contents may interest some of your 
readers. It is dated, 

" Waxaws, Oct. 10, 1806. 
"My Dear Son, — Grace and peace attend thy 
spirit. I was musing in my mind yesterday, 
and feeling deeply for the South Carolina con- 
ference, with that impartiality that becomes a gene- 
ral superintendent of seven annual conferences, 
when suddenly it sprung up in my mind to write 
to Henry Smith to come with all haste to Charles- 
ton, if possible, by the first or middle of December. 
Immediately I write, and do not confer with flesh 
and blood. Our fields in this conference are white 
for harvest. The laborers are faint and few. Not 
that I would call preachers from other confer- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



215 



ences, supposing the natives of the state were not 
competent, if we had them ; or [willingly] invite 
men to come so far. Your rheumatic affliction 
may meet with a cure in one year or nine months 
in Charleston. Preachers do not enter, nor con- 
tinue in the work here, as in the middle confer- 
ences; to marry is to locate. The people are 
short lived ; we must make haste to save them. 
In Charleston we have one thousand members. 
They have souls. Three thousand steady sabbath 
hearers, that change, perhaps, to fifteen hundred, 
or two thousand, in the whole year. I advise you 
to sell your horse, or lend him to a preacher, if 
you cannot sell. You will take the mail stage, 
and come in haste ; (the King's business requireth 
haste.) But, after all, if you feel any insurmount- 
able difficulties in your way, or stubborn objec- 
tion, I deal not in imperious commands. I must 
do the best I can with the strength we have. With 
the same post, a letter accompanies yours to 
Joshua Wells. If you can meet him in Baltimore, 
you can come together to Fayetteville. Then he 
(Wells) will turn off to Wilmington. As to the 
expenses of your passage, I shall desire the stew- 
ards to pay the whole. We have two meeting- 
houses, sixty by forty feet each. We have a 
dwelling-house in the suburbs of the city, with two 
rooms, one above and one below, for each preach- 
er, and anything that you may need ; and as 
wicked a city as any in America : but Jesiis came 



216 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



to seeJc and save that which was lost, I have 
visited that place, and stayed for days and nights 
among boarders, as wicked as fiends. Now I 
have provided a house for my children. As long 
as I superintend, which may not be long, I cannot 
see any part of the work suffer, if help is to be 
had. Your age, your steady mind, and your not 
being incumbered, at present, have moved me. 

" I have had an awful summer for heat and ill 
health ; but a blessed conference. Good news 
from the missionaries — added between thirteen 
or fourteen hundred in the western conference — 
all union and love. Brother Watson or some 
preacher will supply your place. You will write 
to me at Sparta, Hancock county, Georgia, if 
possible, before the close of the conference, that I 
may know what to do with the station, when I 
know whether you can come or not. I have just 
escaped from the mountains ; have rode rapidly ; 
and can hardly find a place to sit down without 
the bawling of children. Night comes on ; and I 
close with saying. Preach sanctification, directly 
and indirectly, in every discourse. My love to 
all the brethren. 

" I am, as ever, your father and friend, 

" F. ASBURT. 

" I shall only observe, that Baltimore Confer- 
ence has about eighteen thousand members of so- 
ciety ; South Carolina twelve thousand. I doubt 



AJJT OLD ITINERANT. 



217 



if we shall be able to send out forty traveling 
preachers from the south. Baltimore has sixty, 
besides local men. We shall in the south meet, in 
time, the brethren in the west, and take South 
America, and all the Floridas, French and Span- 
ish, if the work goes on. Farewell. F. A." 

Brother Wells was more righteous than I ; for 
he obeyed the call like an obedient son in the gos- 
pel, but I was disobedient. I had no money to 
pay my expenses, either by stage, packet, or on 
horseback ; and my friends on the circuit refused 
either to adyance or lend money to send me away ; 
but the most "insurmountable" difficulty in my 
mind was, the being stationed in a city, where I 
should have charge of one thousand souls ; and I 
wrote to the bishop that I could not come. 

When conference came on, and my name was 
called, I retired as usual, but was kept out an un- 
usually long time. My mind was never more 
tranquil and happy at any conference. When I 
was called in, brother Pitts stated to me that there 
was something against me. The bishop then stated 
what it was. I explained my reasons for not 
going. In substance, the bishop said, he did not 
's\dsh what he said to have a bearing upon me as 
an individual ; but wished it to be distinctly un- 
derstood that the preachers must be prompt and 
obedient, or the work could not be filled up. This 
censure before the conference was the first and 



218 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



only one that ever came to my knowledge ; and 
it produced no unpleasant feelings toward tlie 
bishop. Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXVI. 

Dear Brother, — I now have a few hours' 
leisure, and resume my narrative. Another very 
old stand for Methodist preaching was at Nicho- 
demus Bond's. I do not know through whose in- 
strumentality this aged convert to Methodism was 
awakened, for he had gone to his reward a few 
years before I came on this circuit ; but he must 
have been brought to God under the labors of 
some of the first Methodist preachers, he being 
one of the oldest local preachers in the circuit. I 
preached several times in an old house on Chest- 
nut Ridge, about twelve miles from Baltimore, 
where the good old man lived, and finished his 
course. There was then no society or regular 
preaching there ; but one of his sons still lived in 
the house. Brother Bond went far and near to 
preach Christ crucified ; and the Lord blessed his 
labors of love, by adding seals to his ministry. I 
heard of his preaching at Low's, near the Blue 
Ball, in Pennsylvania, where he formed a society. 
I believe some of his converts are still living, and 
holding on their way. I frequently heard the old 
Methodists speak of him with great affection and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



219 



respect Metliodism still lives in some of his 
descendants. 

I must take notice of one more plain, worthy 
family, in Baltimore circuit. In 1806 I preached 
at Michael Emmart's, on the White Grounds, 
where I had some delightful meetings. Shortly- 
after that, preaching was removed to his son Wil- 
liam's, and they have had week-day preaching 
ever since. Brother Emmart's house has been 
like the house of Obed Edom, for he and his pious 
wife have been greatly blessed of the Lord in their 
circumstances, and blessed in their family. Their 
children have all become decidedly religious ; per- 
haps one only excepted ; and her morals are good 
enough to keep her within the pale of any Chris- 
tian church. These good people have brought 
that neighborhood under great obligations for the 
pious example they have set them in bringing up 
their children, and the good they have done in 
various other ways. The education of their chil- 
dren was suitable to their circumstances, and 
their sons were brought up to business, by which 
they can honestly and honorably provide for them-^ 
selves and those who are dependent upon them, 
and they maintain a useful and respectable stand- 
ing in society. Not a stain rests upon the cha- 
racter of any one of their offspring. Some are 
already in heaven, and we have ground for hope 
that all will get there. Perhaps the secret lies 
here. Whoever heard William Emmart or his 



220 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



wife repeat the faults of the members of the. church 
before their children — saying, Such a one is a 
hypocrite ; or, The other one has no religion ? &c. ; 
or finding fault with the preachers, or their preach- 
ing, before their children ? If there was anything 
said on this subject, it was always in charity. 
Hence their children grew up in the fear of the 
Lord, and were taught to respect the preachers, 
and all good people. 

Who can tell the mischief parents do by repeat- 
ing the faults and blunders of professors of religion 
before their families, in such a way as to impress 
the tender mind with an idea that they take plea- 
sure in it ? No wonder that such children grow 
up with a dislike to religion and religious people, 
and suspect almost every one. Such parents are 
not always the most conscientious and consistent 
themselves ; and it is an easy matter for children 
to see this, and persuade themselves that their pa- 
rents have no more religion than other people, 
and are hypocrites as well as others ; and that the 
restraints they impose upon them proceed from 
selfishness, and are a species of tyranny. The fatal 
consequences have been seen in such families. 
The children grow up with a dislike to all religion. 
At any rate, they are ashamed of the religion of 
their fathers ; yea, sometimes they become perse- 
cutors and haters of God's people ; and if ever 
they profess religion, they are apt to seek a home 
in some other church. However defective the 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



221 



Romanists may be in other respects, in educating 
their children so as to give them a strong bias in 
favor of their own church they are not wanting. 

I will here touch another subject which has 
been heavy upon my mind. How often do we 
hear religious parents speak, in presence of their 
children, of the follies and sinful pleasures they 
took delight in in their youth, and of the mis- 
chievous and wicked practices of their riper years ! 
And this would do less harm if they did not do it 
in such a manner and spirit as to excite laughter, 
and leave an impression upon the minds of chil- 
dren and other youth, that it still affords these 
parents pleasure to think and speak of these things. 
Should the remembrance of a pardoned sinner's 
sins afford him any pleasure ? Or should he speak 
of them so as to create mirth ? As it respects my- 
self, when I get but a glimpse of the holiness of 
God, the purity and requirements of his law, and 
the rigor of his justice, I cannot think of a single 
sinful act of my life without a degree of horror. 
The unguarded conduct of professors of religion 
in this thing has no doubt had a pernicious influ- 
ence upon children and young people. Shortly 
after my conversion I was trying to persuade one 
of my schoolmates to turn to the Lord, and seek 
religion ; but he excused himself by saying, " I 
am too young ; my father was a very wild young 
man, and he is now a very good Christian." This 
young man was much more influenced by the wild 



222 



RECOLLECTIOISS OF 



and mcked conduct of his father before his con- 
version, though he never saw it, than by the pious 
example now set before him. 

Although William Emmart and his wife never 
had what may be called a refined education, they 
learned brotherly kindness and Christian refine- 
ment in the school of Christ ; and their children 
have been educated in the same school, and follow 
their pious example. These good people's house 
has been a church for the neighborhood; and a 
very comfortable and quiet home for the preachers 
for many years. But bl-other Emmart has left 
his earthly habitation, and gone to his " house not 
made with hands." For years he was paralyzed 
from head to foot, and the last time I saw him he 
was just able to move across the room. He might 
be said to be faint, but still puruing his heavenly 
course. His heart was fixed, trusting in the 
Lord. He was patient under affliction, and sweet- 
ly resigned to the will of Heaven. He died on 
the 6th of May, in great peace, and full assurance 
of everlasting rest. I had the privilege of attend- 
ing his funeral. There was a large and solemn 
congregation ; for a man so honest and conscientious 
in all his dealings, so upright in his walk, and so kind 
and benevolent in his disposition, must command 
respect. So lived and so died William Emmart, 
one of the very best men in Baltimore circuit. 

Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



223 



LETTER XXVII. 

Dear Brother, — According to my best abili- 
ties, and the opportunities I have had, I have 
studied Methodism for more than fifty years, and 
made my observations on this great revival of reli- 
gion, in different cities and states. And although 
I am not a bigot, yet I must say that Methodist 
doctrine and discipline carried out are " Chris- 
tianity in earnest." And I must say that the 
Baltimore society, as a church, has presented one 
of the fairest and best samples of primitive Wes- 
ley an Methodism. And this no one need wonder 
at when he reflects that Francis Asbury was their 
chief apostle, and he and his converts gave cha- 
racter and stability to Methodism there, that has 
hitherto resisted all attempts at dangerous innova- 
tions, or modern improvements of it. They have, 
in the main, held fast to that form of doctrine and 
discipline delivered to them by their first preach- 
ers. I believe the Virginia and Baltimore Con- 
ferences sent some of the first Methodist mission- 
aries to the New-England states. They were 
plain, straight-forward men, and presented Me- 
thodism as it is ; and not as the customs and 
prejudices of the people would have liked to have 
it. Perhaps Methodism had more prejudice and 
stubborn opposition to contend with in New-Eng- 
land, than in auy other part of our highly favored 



1 



224 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



land. But the missionaries did not compromise 
either our doctrine or discipline, so as to suit the 
wishes or prejudices of the people, however sin- 
gulai^ or unpopular they might appear. Their 
whole reliance for success rested upon the sound- 
ness and purity of their doctrine, the excellence 
of their discipline, and the power of God, that 
always attends his word, when it is preached in 
simplicity and faith. Faith, I say — the word 
must be preached in faith — and much assurance, 
or it will seldom, if ever, reach the hearts of a 
prejudiced and opposing people, however true 
and excellent it may be in itself. I have not for- 
gotten the affecting representations our venerable 
Asbury used to give us, in the Baltimore Confer- 
ence, of the New-England preachers — their self- 
denying, cross-bearing, laborious, and enterprising 
spirit. But when he spoke of their zeal, their 
privations and hardships, and, above all, their 
"deep poverty,'^ and the stern opposition they 
met with from almost every class of people, we 
were melted into tears. Once, however, the good 
old bishop had like to have given offense to some, 
when he told us of a good brother, and I think 
gave his name, who dined with his family on a 
blackberry pie, and nothing else. Some seemed 
to think that the bishop presented him as a model 
for married preachers. 0 how earnestly the 
bishop begged for our surplus funds for New- 
England, and how cheerfully they were voted ! 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



225 



The Baltimore Conference was then rich, and 
had a surplus. The bishop spoke with great 
affection and tenderness of his sons in the gospel 
in New-England, natives as well as others, and 
history records their success. 

But who does not know that New- England is 
a land of improvements and invention, as well as 
" steady habits Improvements are made there 
in almost everything. And attempts have been 
made to remove the "old land-marks," and im- 
prove the gospel itself. Socinianism, Unitarian- 
ism, Arianism, Universalism, and other exploded 
errors, have taken deep root, and made fearful 
work in New-England. Even new systems of 
religion have been manufactured there. And it is 
also well known, that even the doctrine contained 
in "The Westminster Confession of Faith" has 
been ground over, and passed through the mill 
of improvement, and come out so new that the 
"old-school" Presbyterians and Congregational- 
ists will not own it as their adopted child, and 
have expelled it as heretical. The learned di- 
vines of the new school hold that it is indeed the 
same child that was born, or perhaps adopted, at 
Westminster, England, in July, 1643; they have 
only brought it to maturity, and consequently it 
appears in a new and improved dress. But the 
old school still denounce it as an impostor, and 
a " damnable heresy." Some of the simple-heart- 
ed Methodists say it is Methodism ; and it looks 
15 



226 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



and talks very much like it. Others, who are 
not so credulous, or perhaps have more sagacity, 
say it is like Methodism in appearance, and for 
special purposes, only ; and the mistake is easily 
detected. Some of your correspondents have 
more than intimated that a revival " gotten up " 
on the plan of self-conversion cannot be of any 
lasting benefit to the church, or to the world. It 
is not at all strange that attempts should be made 
to improve Methodist usages in such a land of 
improvements and inventions. Indeed, some Yan- 
kee improvements are making their way to Bal- 
timore. They cannot, however, claim a patent 
right for introducing pews and organs into our 
churches, for it is said the plan was imported from 
England. They have only adopted it. Attempts 
have been made to enlighten and reform that 
simple-hearted old Methodistical society or church 
in Baltimore, and just in proportion as they have 
listened to these fascinating and pretty plans, har- 
mony has been disturbed, and the cords of union 
have been weakened. Methodism is a unit, and 
should, if possible^ be the same everywhere. 

That poor brother is to be pitied who is sent to 
a circuit or station with instructions not to " mend 
our rules, but to keep them," and finds few class 
meetings are kept up in any form, and where they 
are obliged to have open love-feasts, because the 
pew-holders are opposed to closed doors. And why 
have we had so little trouble in Baltimore, and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



227 



south of Baltimore, on these and some other sub- 
jects that have agitated and perplexed the north ? 
I know of no better reason than this — the body 
of the Methodists glory in abiding by the same 
rule, and walking in the same spirit, as did their 
fathers who received Methodism as it was taught 
them by Wesley and his coadjutors. Methodism, 
in its simple principles, and plain, humble dress, 
has been good enough for them, and they have 
been more concerned to reform themselves by 
drinking into its spirit, and conforming to its 
rules, than to make improvements on it. They 
brought their prejudices and prepossessions to 
yield to superior light, and sacrificed them both 
for the sake of higher privileges, and more sacred 
enjoyments. And though they are dead, their 
example still speaks ; and the spirit of the fathers 
still lives among their successors. 

I take great pleasure in adding to those I have 
already noticed, the names of Philip Rogers, 
James M' Cannon, Jesse Hollings worth, Isaac 
Burniston, Abner Neal, the Hawkinses, and Fish- 
ers, all of blessed memory, and a host of pious 
and devoted females, who were the salt of the 
earth, and ornaments of the church. Eobert 
Fisher's house was my home in the spring of 
1800, at the General Conference, and a comfort- 
able home it was to me, after I had come through 
the wilderness from Scioto, and had to sleep in 
the woods for several nights. The dear old peo- 



228 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



pie have both gone to their reward in heaven, 
long since, where I hope to meet them. These, 
and many more early Methodists, set an example 
worthy of imitation while the world stands. O 
highly favored and highly honored Baltimore ! 
where the spirit of simplicity and brotherly love 
still abounds, your hospitality and liberality are 
almost proverbial : let not any of these fascinating, 
pretended improvements of Methodism, rob you 
of your crown. Hold fast that form of sound doc- 
trine and wholesome discipline delivered to your 
fathers, and you will prosper yet more abundantly. 
But is it not to be feared that the great Head of 
the church has somewhat against us? Is not 
the spirit of plain, simple Methodism, departing 
from us? Is not the spirit of the world gaining 
ground upon us ? Shortly after the new church 
was opened in Eutaw-street, I heard Bishop As- 
bury preach a plain, close sermon, in said church. 
I think it was the first time he preached in that 
church. His text was, " Seeing then that we have 
such hope, we use great plainness of speech." The 
discourse was plain and powerful. He expressed 
a fear that the Baltimoreans were departing from 
the simplicity of the gospel. He reproved them in 
the spirit of a father, and raised his voice, and 
cried aloud, " Come back, come back, come back," 
raising his voice higher at every repetition. His 
looks are still imprinted on my mind, and the 
solemn words, Come back, come back, come 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



229 



back/' still seem to sound in my ears. There, 
under that pulpit, rest in peace the ashes of the 
good old bishop. If he were to start into life 
again, and take that pulpit, would he not have 
cause to repeat the cry, " Come back," still louder ? 
But it is not likely that those who will not hear 
Jesus and his apostles, would be persuaded though 
Asbury rose from the dead. 

True, we do not as yet send our children to 
a dancing school to improve their manners and 
movements, and so prepare them to cut a figure 
in a gay and sinful world, without any regard to 
their salvation. We do not go to the theatre or 
balls ourselves. We only have large and expen- 
sive parties. The Methodists had parties too in 
former days ; but they might be said to be ''feasts 
of love^^ for little, if any, of the spirit of the world 
was among them ; and religion and Christian expe- 
rience was the chief subject of conversation. Their 
hearts were made to burn within them while they 
talked of Jesus and his love, and compared their 
experience with the word of God, and the expe- 
rience of each other. Their countenances were 
lighted up and expressed the purest joy. It can- 
not be denied that at some of those social parties, 
a glass of wine, or good cider, was sometimes 
handed about, (in this thing, at least, there is some 
improvement,) yet if there happened to be an 
humble mourner present, he did not lose his reli- 
gious impressions, but was rather strengthened and 



230 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



encouraged, for the conversation was holy and 
" meet to minister grace to those who heard it." 
If any of the unconverted were present, they 
were made to feel solemn ; and if any were dis- 
posed to laugh and trifle, they could not do it in 
such company. Such parties were always de- 
lighted to have the preachers with them, and they 
were sure to spend a part of the time in singing 
hymns and spiritual songs, and prayer; and they 
sometimes rose from their knees in tears, or even 
" shouting happy." This was all the music they 
had at their parties. If it happened to be preach- 
ing night, the hour was not lost sight of, and the 
party attended the preachers to the house of God. 
But mostly the preachers excused themselves from 
going into company on preaching nights, by say- 
ing, '^It is my night to preach for it was their 
choice to go from their study, and from their knees, 
to the pulpit. No one would presume to detain 
the preacher, much less persuade him not to go to 
his appointment. He was not obliged to start up 
from the table at an hour when he ought to be 
in the house of God, and break away from all 
the chaffy table talk, and hasten to the pulpit, and 
there deliver a short, perhaps dry, uninteresting 
lecture, and then hasten back, and join the com- 
pany in their cheerful, but unprofitable conversa- 
tion again, because he had left his family there. If 
I should be thought to exaggerate, I have a very 
good judge in you, my dear doctor, and you can 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



231 



easily correct me, for I am sure you must have 
been at some of those old-fashioned Methodist 
parties. But I have got out of my track : I was 
going to say something about new-fashioned par- 
ties, but really I know so little about them, that I 
have to write what I hear from others, and some- 
times guess at it. 

Well, w^e have left the preacher and his family 
in the midst of a large party. The man of God 
has just returned from the sacred desk to spend an 
hour or two longer with his friends. There are 
the aged and the young ; the serious, and the gay 
and thoughtless, the saint and sinner, spending a 
social evening together in cheerful conversation. 
But through the whole evening there is less said 
about the things of God than any other subject. 
The hour arrives for the company to retire ; but, 
before they retire, a short prayer is said. They had 
had plenty of fine music, and they depart, mostly 
highly gratified. Says one, What an agreeable 
and delightful party we had — what a well-set 
table, and how richly furnished — what a variety of 
good things !" " Yes," says a gay lady, " I enjoyed 
the evening very much indeed ; really, I thought 
the Methodists were so religious that they would 
be constantly pestering us with their religious no- 
tions, so that we could not enjoy ourselves in their 
company." " O," says another, " how agreeably 
I was disappointed ! I thought the Methodist 
preachers were so precise and demure, that there 



282 



KECOLLECTIONS OF 



could be nothing but gloom and melancholy where 
they are ; but I find that some of them at least are 
very fine company, and enjoy a joke, and tell as 
amusing and entertaining anecdotes as any one.'' 
" O,'' says another, " I was delighted ; we had 
everything but dancing to make one happy." 
^'But," says a serious brother, "I did not enjoy 
that splendid party ; there was too much costly 
parade and the spirit of the world for me. I think 
I shall go to no more, for I came away uncomfor- 
table in mind." Says another, " I could have en- 
joyed everything, but I have a note to take up in 
bank to-morrow, and to make matters still worse, 
just as I left home a bill was handed me, and as mat- 
ters are, I could not enjoy anything, for I could 
not shake off that ' bill fever.' " To be sure," 
says a good sister to her husband, " what a splen- 
did party Mrs. had ! Suppose w^e have a 

party ; I should be delighted to have such a party." 
" O, my dear," says the good man, " w^e cannot have 
such a party; I owe too much money, and we 
cannot afford it ; w^e must be just toward our cred- 
itors, as w^ell as sociable and friendly to our neigh- 
bors." " O, come now, my dear husband, it can't 
cost a great deal, and I should like to have a 
party." "My dear wife, it will cost more than 
we can afford. Besides, I do not think it is right 
to have such costly parade and extravagant dis- 
plays in these hard times, when so many are suf- 
fering for the necessaries of life. And again, I do 



AN OLD ITINERAi^T. 



233 



not enjoy so much chaffy and unprofitable talk. I 
received no real benefit, and came away worse than 
I went." " I am sure/' says the wife, " there can 
be no harm in it, for the preacher and his family 
were there, and seemed to enjoy it as much as 
any one else." " That may be, but it does not 
suit us." " Well, owe money or no money, suit 
or not suit, we must have a party. We might as 
well be out of the world, as be singular, or out of 
the fashion. We have children growing up, and 
they must go into company to learn how to behave 
themselves, and I vnll have a party." Adam was 
overcome by his Eve, even in paradise. A party 
is gotten up, and surely they must not be outdone 
by Mrs. . 

It is now Saturday evening, and I have to 
preach here to-morrow, where I have preached 
nearly every other Sunday, and sometimes two, 
or even three Sundays in succession for more than 
eight years, and no sermon prepared yet ; so, my 
dear brother, I must bid you farewell, till you 
hear from me again, 

Your very affectionate and obliged friend and 
brother, Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXYIII. 

Dear Brother, — I now sit down to give you 
some further account of my early days, and con- 
nection with the Methodist E. Church. 



234 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



I was born near Frederick Citj, Maryland, 
April 23, 1769. My parents, Bartholomew and 
Catharine Smith, were both members of the Ger- 
man Reformed Church ; in which church I was 
baptized. 

When I was about four years of age, my father 
made a purchase of some land on the head of 
Long Marsh, Frederick county, Virginia. He 
came to this country, at the age of twenty-five ; 
being a single man, and poor, but soon married ; 
and being a brisk and industrious mechanic, (a 
blacksmith.) he soon saved money enough to pur- 
chase a good farm. 

I was their first child ; and was early sent to a 
German school, where I learned to read, and be- 
gan to write, when the school broke up, and I 
went to German school no more. I, however, 
committed a part of the catechism to memory. I 
was afterward sent to an English school, where I 
learned to read, write, and made some progress in 
arithmetic ; but having no taste for learning, and 
being of a wild, playful disposition, my mind was 
diverted from my book, and I got but little edu- 
cation. 

I was naturally inclined to evil, and contracted 
many bad habits at school. My parents both 
feared the Lord, and restrained me from vice, 
and tried to keep me out of bad company ; and I 
often thought that it was hard that I v/as not al- 
lowed to do as many other boys did. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



235 



When I was about thirteen years of age, my 
parents went to hear some Methodist preachers 
who came into our neighborhood, and spoke well 
of the preachers and their preaching. Among 
other things, they said, " Those men do not preach 
for money — ^they preach for souls." About this 
time I went to hear that holy man of God, Wil- 
liam Jessop, one of our first American preachers. 
I wept much under the sermon, and thought he 
was the best man I had ever seen. There I first 
heard a loud responsive amen, by some Metho- 
dists, who were present. I thought they treated 
the man rudely, by saying amen before he was 
done praying; and wished him to stop, but he 
prayed the more fervently. 

When I was in my fifteenth year, my dear mo- 
ther died in peace, I trust. This was certainly 
the loudest call to repentance I had ever had ; for 
she called me to her bedside, and exhorted me to 
turn to the Lord, and be a good boy. I promised, 
with many tears, that I would. My heart was 
much broken up ; and when my youthful mind, 
for a moment, lost sight of the mournful occasion 
that gave rise to these impressions, it was soon 
revived when I came into the presence of my fa- 
ther, who was often in tears, and, with a broken 
heart, spoke to his children of their dear mother. 
No man could mourn more sincerely for the loss 
of a wife than he did. But, alas ! I too soon for- 
got my solemn promise to a dying mother. 



286 



BECOLLEOTIONS OF 



At the age of about sixteen I was instructed 
and confirmed, and, for the first time, took the sa- 
crament. I was, at times, under deep conviction 
for sin. I mourned, I wept, and prayed before 
the Lord; but had no one to help me, and soon 
relapsed into sin, and became worse than ever. 
This was a great grief to my father. I, being the 
eldest son, and thought to be a smart boy, was 
early intrusted with a team, and sent out on the 
road with a wagon. Wagoners, in general, are 
profane and wicked now; but, if possible, they 
were worse then ; and being thrown into such 
company, my morals became greatly corrupted. 

Toward the fall of 1789, sister Connell, grand- 
mother of Zachariah Connell, of the Ohio 
Conference, came from beyond the Alleghany 
Mountains, on a visit to her friends in our neigh- 
borhood. She felt seriously concerned for her 
friends, and the neighborhood in which she had 
been brought up, and applied to my father to let 
the Methodist preachers preach in his house. Al- 
though I was a wild and thoughtless youth, I had 
no objection to have preaching there. My father 
was then a converted man, having found the Lord 
at one of Mr. Otterbine's meetings, at Antietam, 
Maryland. Dear old father Newcomer used to 
say to me, "Your father was converted in my 
arms." 

The first sermon preached by the Methodists at 
our house was by Lewis Chastine, a son of thun- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



237 



der. I was much wrought upon by the Spirit of 
God ; but I strove against it, and tried to shake 
it off. Two weeks after that, under the preaching 
of Thomas Scott, (now Judge Scott, of Ohio,) I 
surrendered my heart to God, and, in the name 
of Jesus, resolved to be religious. I did it from 
principle, and a conviction of the necessity of it. 
There was a prayer meeting at my father's that 
night, and I was much encouraged. The next day 
I went with the preacher to his appointment. By 
the way I met with some of my old companions, 
and they seemed to be surprised to see me in the 
company of a Methodist preacher. 

As I rode home that night I wept and prayed 
all the way. I prayed for deeper conviction, and 
clearer views of the love of God toward the chief 
of sinners ; and I felt the cords of love about my 
burdened heart. Ignorant as I was about the 
things of God, I thought that a keen sense of my 
ingratitude toward the God of love, and a clear 
view of his forbearance, long-suffering, and loving 
kindness, toward me, the -greatest of sinners, alone 
could subdue my rebellious heart. I had often 
resolved to reform, and do better, but never before 
in the name and strength of Jesus. I now was 
afraid to trust myself, and felt the need of divine 
aid. I was afraid of my wicked associates ; and 
thought my only way to get rid of them would be 
to tell them what a great sinner I felt myself to 
be — and I knew they were no better than I was ; 



238 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



and that we should all go to hell together, if we 
did not repent, and turn to God. And I some- 
times did this in tears. " They might," I said, 
" all do as they pleased, but I was determined to 
make my escape !" But few efforts were made 
to draw me back into sin ; and I had no trouble 
to get rid of their company, for they soon shun- 
ned me. 

Some, however, said I would not hold out six 
weeks ; some gave me six months ; and others a 
whole year. But, thank the Lord, fifty-three 
years have rolled away, and, by the grace of God, 
I am still holding on my way. 

On points of doctrine I had no difiiculty; for 
if I had any creed, it was Methodistical. I wept 
and mourned almost day and night. 

On Christmas day, 1789, 1 went to a love-feast 
held at John Wright's, in a private room. I was 
afraid they would not admit me ; but it was a very 
unfavorable morning, so they admitted all who 
came. It was a solemn time, and I wept bitterly, 
and felt strongly impressed to rise and tell the 
people what a great sinner I was, and beg them to 
pray for me ; but did not. If it had been cus- 
tomary to call up the mourners then, I think I 
should have been among the first to go up. 
About a week after this, I went to hear preaching 
at the house of John Davenport, Esq., on the head 
of Bullskin ; and, for the first time, staid in a 
class meeting, and offered myself to the church as 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



239 



a probationer. I had not as yet obtained a sense 
of pardon. I was only a seeker, but thought it 
was best for me to take shelter in the church of 
God, and sign the pledge at once, that I would re- 
nounce the world and sin, and take my stand on 
the side of God and truth. I was afraid of a re- 
lapse, and needed all the guards and helps I could 
get. I went from the meeting to help a neighbor 
to husk out a large pile of corn. Many were 
there, and some as wicked as fiends. I said little 
to any one, for I had no inclination to talk. We 
finished, and had supper over, before it was quite 
dark. I stepped out to go home. In the yard I 
met Francis M'Cormick, who said to me, " What ! 
going home already ? Well," said he, " they tell 
me you joined church to-day " — a common saying 
among them. I do not know how the news got 
there. I told him I had. Said he, " And what 
made you do that?" I did not hesitate to tell 
him seriously my whole and sole object in joining 
church, as he called it. He professed to be a 
Universalist, and pled for the doctrine. I told 
him I had tried to believe it, but I found it would 
not do. I did not believe it was true. " Well," 
says he, " how do you feel, any how ?" I said, 
" Bad enough," and tried to tell him my state as 
well as I could. He took me by the hand, and 
said, " Farewell, I expect I shall join too, after 
awhile," and went back into the house. He felt 
and looked serious ; which was noticed by a play- 



240 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ful and mischievous fellow, who played a trick on 
him. This so enraged M'Cormick that he would 
have thrown the man head foremost into a large 
fire, (for he was a powerful man,) if he had not 
been prevented ! 

Strange to tell, both these men got converted 
shortly afer this. I think it was that day two 
weeks M'Cormick went to meeting, and got pow- 
erfully awakened, and joined society, and that 
night began to pray in his family. I was not 
present ; I was out on the road with the wagon. 
The other was converted at my father's. M'Cor- 
mick became a leader of a class, an exhorter, and 
finally a local preacher, and was a pioneer in the 
west. In the fall of 1799 I found him on the 
banks of the Little Miami, opening the way for the 
traveling preachers. He became my constant 
companion and true yoke-fellow while I remained 
at home. 

I was very ignorant of the plan of salvation ; 
but I went on to seek the Lord in the best way I 
knew. One day, while Jephtha More, a young 
preacher, was preaching at my father's on this 
text, " And they went out, and preached that men 
should repent ;" while he was showing the neces- 
sity, nature, and fruits of repentance, I felt much ; 
but when he came to show that a sinner is saved 
by grace through faith — justified by faith alone — 
the word was applied to my heart, and I felt 
what I had never felt before. Love and joy 



AN OLD ITINERAXT. 241 

sprang up in my soul, and I praised God aloud, 
and began to exhort my friends to seek the Lord, 
hardly knowing what I said or did. The thought 
then came into my mind, " Can this be conver- 
sion?'' I doubted; and, Peter like, sunk into a 
sea of distress again, fearing I had acted the hy- 
pocrite, and laid a stumbling-block before others. 
I had formed an idea of conversion, but it was an 
unscriptural one. But the Lord "led me in a 
way I knew not, and in paths I had not known.'' 
From that time I went mourning, because I could 
not mourn as I had done before, and felt deeply 
distressed ; for I now feared my conviction and 
my burden were gone, and I should not get the 
blessing. Hardness of heart ensued ; and I some- 
times feared the Lord had forsaken me. I spent 
much time in prayer ; sometimes, a great part of 
the night. 

Some, who may read this, may have passed 
through the same conflict, and know what I mean. 
My dear father took notice of my distress, and 
took an opportunity of saying to me, one day when 
we were alone, "My son, what is the cause of 
your distress of mind ?" for he saw the change in 
my conduct, and had reason to believe that I had 
experienced a change of heart. I told him, I 
wanted the Lord to convert my soul. He asked 
me, if I knew what conversion was, and how it 
was obtained ; and explained to me, that a sinner 
is justified by grace through faith, and through 

16 



242 



KECOLLECTIONS OF 



faith alone. While he wa^ preaching faith to me, 
the glorious plan of salvation was opened to my 
mind ; a plan so well suited to my condition. I 
believed with the heart unto righteousnes&, and 
stepped into the liberty of the children of God, 
My distress gave way, and love and joy flowed 
into my soul. I believed God was reconciled to 
me in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The next class meeting I went to, I told how 
great things God had done for my soul. After 
I had reason to believe I had found peace with 
God, I felt a love to all the world, and wished 
everybody to be a partaker of the same love I 
enjoyed. Hence I recommended religion to every 
one I had access to. I felt myself very weak and 
ignorant, but wished to be useful to my fellow- 
men ; and often thought if the Lord would be 
pleased to favor me with a small gift in prayer, 
so that I could pray with my friends and neigh- 
bors, I might be useful in this way. In this thing 
I was heard, and was soon called upon to pray at 
prayer meetings. 

I tried to make myself useful by visiting fami- 
lies, and talking to them about religion ; mostly 
the poor, for they would listen to me. After my 
day's labor was done, I mounted my horse, and 
rode three or four miles on such visits. Before 
my conversion I could not sing a single tune of 
any kind ; but I had now learned by ear a few 
hymn tunes. Sometimes serious persons would 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



243 



be invited when they knew I was coming. One 
evening when I was on one of these visits, I found 
the house nearly full of people. I was much 
alarmed, and knew not what to do. However, as 
they all seemed serious, I talked to them, sung 
and prayed with them, and talked again, and w^ept 
over them ; and we had a weeping time, and T 
believe serious impressions were made on the 
minds of the most of them. 

Thus, with almost no intention on my part, I 
was led to exhort, and some time after this a 
permit was given me to do so. Our class was 
divided, and I was appointed leader of a part. 
This was a cross indeed. Farewell. 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXIX. 

Dear Brother,— After I had received a per- 
mit to exhort, I felt as if there was no backino: 
out. Now a necessity was laid upon me, and I 
must go forward. But the Lord only knows the 
deep exercises I passed through about this time. 
The important work of saving souls was always 
on my mind, waking or sleeping. I sometimes 
saw in my dreams crowds around me, and falling 
under the mighty power of God, while I was ex- 
horting them to flee the wrath to come. Though 
laboring in a small way, I was not idle. I was 



244 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



naturally bashful and timid, especially among 
strangers, which made public speaking a great 
cross, and subjected me to embarrassments. I 
was now at the beck and call of preachers and 
people, willing to do anything and everything I 
could to promote the cause of Christ. 

I will here give you an instance of my great 
simplicity, and submission to the preachers. My 
father sent me about thirty miles on business. 
When I got near the widow Roszel's, about fifteen 
miles from home, there came up a heavy shower. 
I took shelter in the porch of an old house con- 
tiguous to the one she lived in. While there, I 
was seen by one of the family, who told Mrs. Ros- 
zel that there was a young man in the old porch, 
and he looked like a Methodist. She soon had 
me invited into the house, and challenged me for 
a Methodist ; for Methodists were more easily 
known then than now. Then, and in this way, 
commenced my acquaintance with that excellent 
mother in Israel. The next day, in the evening, 
her son, Stephen George, and Thomas Scott, 
my spiritual father, had an appointment to hold 
a watch meeting there. I went on, and did 
my business, and took the meeting on my way 
home. They got me up to exhort that night, and 
then beset me to take brother Scott's appoint- 
ments for four or five days, until he returned from 
a quarterly meeting he wished to attend. I re- 
monstrated with all my might, and told them that 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



245 



I was unfit for such a work, and had not with me 
a change of linen. I stated, moreover, I was out 
on business, and my father would expect me home 
next day, and would be very unhappy if I did not 
return at the time appointed. My objections 
were met, and I was furnished with everything 
I needed, and a promise was made to let my 
father know where I was, which for some reasons 
was never done. 

I was thus, against all fitness and propriety, 
hastily pressed into the ranks of a traveling 
preacher. I went on, in the simplicity of my 
heart, and had some good meetings. But my 
poor father was greatly distressed at home, and 
actually went after me as far as Mrs. RoszeFs, 
where he heard of me. This was really too bad. 
When I returned, my dear father met me with 
tears, and was so glad to see me that he did not 
even chide me for my indiscretion. 

This incident in my life will, however, lead me 
to enrich my poor narrative with the name of 
Sarah Roszel ; a woman of a strong mind, and 
deeply experienced in religious matters, and 
wholly devoted to God ; a lover of hospitality, 
and a mother to the preachers. Her house must 
have been the preachers' home for more than 
sixty years, and a house of God for the neigh- 
borhood. I always felt myself as a mere child in 
the presence of this mother in our Israel. The 
great amount of good that this primitive Method- 



246 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ist, and most excellent woman, has done, in various 
ways, will not be known in time ; but when the 
Lord shall come to make up his jewels, and 
reward his followers, it will be seen and read of 
all men. 

About this time I went one evening, in company 
with my brother M'Cormick, to what was called 
Davenport's Meeting-house, head of Bullskin, to 
hold a meeting. When we came there we found 
the lower part of the house full of people, and 
some in the gallery. There was no light but 
on the pulpit, and that was high ; so we had to 
ascend the pulpit to see how to read a hymn. 
It was a trembling time with me, and no better 
with my companion. I opened the meeting. 
One poor sinner cried out for mercy under the 
prayer. I tried to exhort, but was, as I thought, 
amazingly embarrassed, and sat down in great 
confusion and distress of mind ; for I felt as if I 
had done more harm than I should ever do good, 
and prayed to the Lord to forgive my presumption, 
and I never would do the like again. The poor 
woman was still crying for mercy. Brother 
M'Cormick gave a lively exhortation, and seemed 
to have great liberty, and concluded with singing 
and prayer. I was still so mortified that I wish- 
ed to get out of the meeting-house, and hide my- 
self. But the people all seemed to be serious, 
and sat down, and some looked at the woman in 
distress. Presently brother M'Cormick began 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



247 



to sing, " Come on, my partners in distress," in 
great spirit, for lie was a fine singer, and the 
soul-melting power of the Lord came down upon 
us, and it was felt through all the house. Mj 
mind was relieved in a moment, and I soon found 
myself on a bench exhorting the people ; and we 
had a most glorious time. This was a log meet- 
ing-house, and I had hauled the first log to it ; and 
this was the first pulpit I ever opened my mouth 
in. Afterward my first attempt to preach was in 
this pulpit. It was then thought to be a very 
fine house ; but now it would be considered a very 
poor thing, even in a country place. 

The time and place of my receiving license to 
preach I have given in a former letter. Shortly 
after I received this authority from the church, 
I had an appointment one evening at John Jefier- 
son's, near Charlestown, A'^irginia. He lived in a 
large house, once the property and residence of 
one of the Washington family. I had held meet- 
ings there before. In that neighborhood there 
lived a family, who had got dreadfully offended at 
me, and persecuted me ; but still they would come 
to my meetings. The old man was a drunkard ; 
and, in those days, I seldom failed to give the 
drunkard his portion, and we had plenty of them. 
While I was preaching, the Spirit of the Lord 
sent his word to the heart of one of the daughters. 
She trembled and cried out ; but the mother and 
another daughter soon took her away. 



248 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



I was once unexpectedly called upon to preach at 
the burial of a man who came to an untimely end. 
It being Sunday, many were present. I stood 
on a wagon at the grave-yard, near Smithfield, and 
gave out, " These shall go into everlasting punish- 
ment, but the righteous into life eternal/' I had not 
spoken long before I was interrupted and contra- 
dicted by one of the crowd. I paid no attention 
to him, and proceeded. Presently he cried out 
again, " It is false doctrine ; you preach lies.'' I 
then entreated him to let me alone, until I finish- 
ed my discourse, and promised I would then talk 
with him on the subject. He said, Go on, then." 
So after service I found him, and asked what ob- 
jections he had to what I had said. Nearly all 
the people crowded round us. He said, " You 
preach that men can save themselves, of them- 
selves." I, of course, denied preaching any such 
doctrine, and appealed to those who heard me ; 
but he insisted that I preached salvation by 
works, and I ought to be put in jail. I told him I 
was ready to go if he could put me there. A good 
sister pressed through the crowd, took me by the 
arm, and said, " Brother, come away from among 
them; the Scripture tells us to come out from 
among the wicked ;" and so led me away. This 
man was sober, and I believe a professor of reli- 
gion ; and in other respects respectable, so far as 
I knew. I record these occurrences merely to 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



249 



show what ignorance, prejudicej and opposition, 
we had to contend with in early times. 

I now return to my narrative in regular order, 
and shall hasten to the end. In the spring of 
1807 I was appointed to Fell's Point, now Great 
Falls, circuit, until August, and then to relieve 
Thomas Budd, at Fell's Point station. I entered 
into my work with great simplicity of heart and 
purity of intention. I took down the names of 
all the members in a book, as I found them on the 
class papers, which now lies before me. I will 
hastily travel once more round this old circuit, as 
it then was. I began at Gatch's Meeting-house, 
five miles from Baltimore. Thence to Gray's 
school-house, near North Point, where the British 
landed in the late war. Then back to Patapsco 
Meeting-house. This house was converted into a 
hospital by the British, where poor wounded sol- 
diers of both armies were stretched, side by side, 
and received surgical aid ; I was there a few days 
after the battle. The meeting-house was pierced 
by a bullet, and one or two through the pulpit. It 
looked more like a slaughter-house than a house 
of worship. We went afterward to Oram's Meet- 
ing-house, Back River Neck. Then to Pres- 
bury's Meeting-house — to Isaac Watter's, Ridge- 
ly's wood cuttings — then to Perry Hall. Thence 
to the Fork Meeting-house — and in the afternoon 
to the widow Bond's. Sister Bond was a child 



250 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



of affliction, but an humble, meek-spirited Chris- 
tian. 

There I found John "Wesley Bond, not yet a 
man, but a very fine boy. He afterward became 
a preacher, and entered the itinerant work ; and 
it is well known to thousands that he was, for 
many years, Bishop Asbury's faithful traveling 
companion. The bishop passed no empty com- 
pliments on any man ; but he always meant what 
he said, when he spoke in the highest terms of 
his beloved son, " Johnny and expressed great 
gratitude to God, and the Baltimore Conference, 
for giving him such aid. He sometimes said, 
" Can such another be found ?" Dear brother 
John had the mournful honor of kneeling by the 
bedside of that great and good man, and com- 
mending his spirit to God, and with his own hand 
closing the eyes of his beloved father Asbury. 
They have long since met, where they have no 
more rugged mountains and rapid streams to 
cross. They no longer press through the wilder- 
ness and sleep in the woods. They no longer 
endure heat and cold, hunger and thirst, sickness 
and pain ; spending restless nights in a filthy 
cabin, on a dirt floor, after a long day's ride. 

We went afterward to John K. Wilson's, and 
then to Galloway's, near Cromwell's Bridge. 
Then to Spindler's ; and on Sunday to Foster's 
Meeting-house, and James Bosley's. Monday to 
Lesourd's ; then to the Union Meeting-house, and 



AN OLD ITINERANT, 



251 



to Wyley's. Thence to the widow Vaughan's, 
near Cox's town. Then to Major's — to John Al- 
ghier's. The old gentleman was not a member, 
but his wife, three daughters, and a son, all at 
home, were zealous Methodists. The second 
time I went there the old man met me when 
I dismounted; looked serious, and said, "I have 
had a dream I want to tell after you are done 
preaching." It struck me, whatever it might 
be, I could make some good use of it, and I en- 
couraged him. After preaching, I said, Father 
Algheir, now tell your dream. He rose, and with 
quivering lips began ; but this was something so 
unexpected to the family that they all burst into 
tears, and soon into a loud cry, and presently had 
the old father round the neck, and prevented him 
from telling his dream ; and " O there was shout- 
ing, shouting," indeed! He was, however, fully 
broken up that day, and joined the church, and 
was a steady member to the day of his death. 

Saturday we went to CuUison's, and Sunday to 
Cole's Meeting-house, and Charles Gorsuch's, near 
where Jessop's Meeting-house now stands. Twen- 
ty-three regular appointments, where we had 
classes, besides occasional meetings. So farewell 
for the present. Henry Smith, 



252 



KECOLLECTIONS OF 



LETTER XXX. 

Dear Brother, — About the lOth of August, 
1807, as directed by Bishop Asbury, I went to 
Fell's Point station, and brother Budd took my 
place on the circuit. I boarded with Frederick 
Shaeffer, Esq. I did not like to be cooped up in 
a city, but was resigned to the will of God. My 
home was very agreeable, and I had everything 
to make me comfortable. Shaeffer and his pious 
wife were both leaders of classes : sister S. had 
the largest female class in the station ; it increased 
to overflowing, and it was necessary to divide it, 
which was a great trial to them all, for they were 
very much attached to her. And no wonder, for 
she was one of the most devoted and faithful 
leaders I ever knew. If any of her class were 
absent once or twice, she was sure to look after 
them. Or if any were sick, or in distress, she 
went through all kinds of weather to visit them. 

The "VYilk-street Church had been recently 
built, but no parsonage. The old church in 
Strawberry-alley was occupied by the colored 
congregation. Sister JShaeffer has long since gone 
to her reward in heaven. Brother S. is still 
living, but weighed down with many infirmitie^. 
Lord bless him, and support him to the end. 
Ourconference in the spring of 1808 sat in George- 
town, D. C. From thence I went to Alleghany 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



258 



circuit. Eli Henkle was my colleague. We 
found a six weeks' circuit, but by the urgent ad- 
vice of Jacob Gruber, our presiding elder, the 
whole work of six weeks was compressed into 
four weeks. We only left out one or two unim- 
portant appointments. This gave us pretty hard 
riding, and plenty of work. Upon the whole, it 
was a profitable year to me, and I hope to others 
also. We had a most delightful camp meeting 
in August, near Cresopstown. On Patterson's 
Creek I met with James M. Hanson, for many 
years of the Baltimore Conference. He had just 
begun to speak in public, and was well spoken of 
by the society, so I gave him license to exhort, 
and encouraged him to improve his mind by read- 
ing and study, and make good use of the gifts God 
had given him. Toward the close of the year he 
was licensed to preach, and also recommended to 
conference. Near the mouth of the South Branch 
I found William Munroe, and we gave him li- 
cense to exhort, and he was the following year 
recommended to conference. These men were 
then boys, but now they are gray headed. Me- 
thodism had been planted in very early times in 
many neighborhoods within the bounds of this 
circuit; and I found old established Methodists 
there who could tell us something about the oldest 
Methodist preachers. I was frequently at the 
house of John Jeremiah Jacobs, commonly called 
Captain Jacobs, for he had served as a captain in 



254 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



the revolutionary war, but was then serving under 
the Captain of his salvation, as an acceptable and 
useful local preacher. With this good man and 
his pious wife I had sweet fellowship. I found 
him to be a pleasant and profitable companion, 
and a good and safe counselor. He always took 
great interest in the affairs of the circuit, traveled 
extensively, and labored successfully. 

I here insert a few things respecting my per- 
sonal experience, as they stand written in my 
book. Perhaps some one may profit by them. 

" For some months past I have often felt as if 
my soul were declining in grace, for I had measu- 
rably lost the sweet spirit of recollection and in- 
ward watchfulness, for the want of which I was 
much exposed and harassed. I could not so sen- 
sibly feel the presence of God, and walk and talk 
as in his sight. I often mourned on account of 
a wandering mind and a hard heart, and insensi- 
bility of soul. I resolved, and resolved, but still 
the clouds overspread my mind, and I could not 
always rejoice. I did not enjoy such sweet com- 
munion with God, and divine sweetness in the 
means of grace as I had done, which at times gave 
me great pain. I saw, I felt, that I was in dan- 
ger of being swept away. My mind began to be 
more light and unhappy. My conversation was 
not always seasoned with grace. On the 22d of 
January, 1809, I preached at Cresopstown, and 
had not much liberty in speaking. In class I was 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



255 



led to tell a little of my experience, and then sat 
down to hear my brethren speak. The Lord 
melted my poor heart, and poured out such a 
blessing upon my soul that I again felt as if I 
could confidently claim Jesus as all my own, and 
that I was wholly his. It has been a sifting time 
with me, and I have not stood my ground, and 
honored my God, and adorned my profession, as 
I ought to have done. But as the Lord has been 
so indulgent toward me as to bear with me, and 
so good to me as to manifest himself afresh to my 
soul, and fill me once more with a sense of per- 
fect love, I have learned experience from the 
things I have suffered. I hope to be more upon 
my guard. Glory be to God for all his goodness 
to me ! I now feel the holy fire burning within 
my soul, and hope to keep it burning. Lord, help 
me ; and when in company arm me against levity 
and unprofitable conversation ; and, when alone, 
against vain and foolish thoughts and reasonings. 
O Lord, help me in all things to do thy will, for I 
am vile, weak, and helpless I" 

Our quarterly meeting was held at Cumberland, 
February 11th and 12th, 1809. The meeting 
was continued on Monday. The quarterly meet- 
ing conference met in the morning to finish some 
business. In conference I gave way to my be- 
setting sin, and spoke hastily and unguardedly 
with my lips. I in a moment felt sorrow of heart, 
and was deeply humbled. In a very little w^hile 



256 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



I had to preach. I felt little and mean, and rose 
under a cloud ; but the good Lord was so good to 
me as to stand by me and assist me in rather an 
Qxtraordinarj manner; and I can truly say, I 
never had greater liberty in speaking. The peo- 
ple were melted down into tears on every side, 
and some overpowered with a sense of the divine 
presence, so that they seemed to be lost in God. 
O, glory to God, it was a time of power and love 
to many souls. Some will no doubt remember 
this meeting in eternity." After that I had 
several more good meetings in different parts of 
the circuit. Upon the whole, it was a year of 
labor and toil, and some trials ; but, also, a year 
of many mercies, and undeserved blessings. On 
the 27th of February I left the circuit for confer- 
ence in Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, Vir- 
ginia. Our conference was opened on the 2d day 
of March. Both our bishops were present ; and, 
what was still better, the great Head of the church 
was in our midst, and we had peace and harmony. 
March the 8th our conference closed, and my ap- 
pointment was read out for Annapolis, the metro- 
polis of Maryland. I was much worn down by the 
labors of the last year ; yet on the 2oth I arrived 
at Annapolis, though still very feeble ; but my 
soul was greatly refreshed, for the friends received 
me very kindly indeed. My soul was humbled, 
and sometimes overflowed with gratitude. Here 
I found a gracious revival of religion in progress. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. ^7 

After brother James Smith, who had preceded 
me, had left for conference, the work broke out at 
prayer and other meetings, and a number were con- 
verted. On Sunday, the 26th, I received twenty- 
one white persons and ten colored into the 
church, I believe all happy in the Lord; and 
many more were added to the Lord afterward. 
Mr. R. Williston had been there a few years before, 
and proclaimed war against shouting, and some of 
the most influential members sided with the 
preacher. This created unhappy divisions in the 
society; confidence was shaken, and brotherly 
love had grown cold. Many wounds had not yet 
healed when I came on. But the Lord highly 
favored us. I prevailed on a number of the most 
zealous of our members to be formed into bands. 
We had about fifty in bands ; and our general 
band meetings were seasons of great refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord. A great concern 
was waked up in the minds of many for a deeper 
work of grace; and holiness was our theme. I 
have no doubt but some of the greatest shouters 
were made more than shouting happy — if jumping 
is shouting. The anti-shouters were warmed up, 
and we met and harmonized. Here I met with 
the Rev. Joseph Wyatt, who had been a traveling 
preacher in early times ; but he married a second 
wife in Annapolis, and located. He was a very 
nice and sensible man, and an excellent preacher, 
and for many years chaplain to the legislature. 
17 



258 



HECOLLECTIONS OF 



He unfortunately was of Mr. "Williston's party^ 
which injured his influence and usefulness with 
some of the members ; but we worked very well 
together, although we sometimes made a little too 
much noise for the old gentleman. I boarded 
with Sammy Peace. Sister Peace was one of the 
excellent of the earth, and brother Peace was all 
kindness and attention to me, and I had a pleasant 
year of it. Upon the whole, this was, perhaps, the 
pleasantest year of my ministry. Bishop Asbury 
paid us a visit in the spring of 1810, and was much 
refreshed among us ; the brethren begged him to 
let me stay another year and help them to build a 
new meeting-house. This, however, was not 
granted. But no matter; they were better pro- 
vided for. Our beloved John Pitts, of precious 
memory, succeeded me. 

After I left there, I received many letters from 
old and young converts. A young man, who 
joined the church the first Sunday I was there, 
wrote to me ; and, among many other things, said, 
" I love my God, and next to my God I love my 
Bible." That young man was Thomas Basford, 
who has been for many years a respectable and 
useful local preacher in Baltimore. He is not 
young now ; but I have reason to believe that he 
loves his God and his Bible better than ever. 

If I had then thought of it I might have col- 
lected good materials for a history of the introduc- 
tion and progress of Methodism in Annapolis ; 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



259 



and the city is worthy of such a sketch ; for I am 
fully persuaded that more souls have been convert- 
ed in Annapolis than any tov/n or city in the 
United States, of its population. It is not a place 
of much business, but its converts are scattered 
all over the country. Our good brother Meriken, 
now stationed there, [1842,] might yet do something 
in this thing, for a few of the old members are still 
living — sister Ridgely, brother Peaco, sister Mun- 
roe, and perhaps others. 

My health was very bad, and I intended to ap- 
ply to the conference for a supernumerary relation ; 
or, at any rate, some respite from hard labor and 
responsibility. I attended the bishop to Balti- 
more, the seat of conference that spring, and he 
stopped a night with his old friend, the vene- 
rable and Eev. Mr. Otterbine. During the con- 
ference the bishop invited me to his room, and 
told me he wished me to go to Fredericksburg. 
The society there was disturbed by an unhappy 
division of opinion on account of one of the oldest 
members in the society, who thought it his 
duty to preach. The most enlightened part of 
the society thought he had mistook his call, and 
would not agree to give him license. I was dis- 
posed to remonstrate, or beg oif ; but the bishop 
said I was the man, and must not say nay. I 
must go to heal if I could ; and if I could not, to 
dismember, according to discipline. My health 
was wretchedly bad, yet I went on as soon as I 



260 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



could get ready, and found things bad enough. 
But, as I soon got the confidence of the contending 
parties, I had hopes that I could reconcile matters, 
and make peace. But, after all that I could in 
justice do, the poor old man, who had the preach- 
ing fever, went off, and drew a small party after 
him, and we had peace. I was there in 1810 and 
1811, and was much afflicted in body, and often 
sorrowful in mind, and also had some persecu- 
tion from the old preacher and his party ; but, 
under all, the gracious Lord sustained me. The 
poor old man and some of his adherents afterward 
joined Wm. Guery, and he immersed them. 
Bless the Lord, I had some success in town and 
country, for souls were converted and added to 
the Lord. Some of the converts had never been 
baptized, and immersion appeared to be the doc- 
trine of the day : that was the right way, and the 
only way ; and there was no other way that was 
right. So I was compelled to come out once 
more on the subject of baptism. Surely the hand 
of the Lord was in this thing, for I do not recol- 
lect that we lost one of our members, or any of 
our converts. I boarded with a very nice and 
kind family, that of Timothy Green, Esq., where 
I felt myself at home. Brother Green was my 
best earthly friend, though I had many friends. 
He is yet living. I have thought of him a thou- 
sand times, and prayed for him ; and I believe he 
will be rewarded in heaven for all his disinter- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



261 



ested kindness. The second year I was on that 
station I made a change with Richard Tjdings, 
then on Stafford circuit, for a few rounds. Such 
a change, it was thought, would recruit my strength. 
There I became acquainted with Doctor Thorn- 
ton, of Dumfries. His son Thomas was the first 
of the family who embraced religion, though but 
a boy. Through his instrumentality the rest of 
the family were brought in. The doctor was then 
a young and zealous convert. He put Thomas 
under my care, and I took him round the circuit 
with me, and heard him give his first puhlic exhor- 
tation. He certainly was a very fine boy, and 
promised to make a preacher ; but little did I 
then think that I was giving the first training to 
one that would be a doctor of divinity and presi- 
dent of a college. Your obliged friend and 
brother, Henky Smith. 



LETTER XXXI. 

Dear Brother, — I have a few more commu- 
nications to make, which I am preparing as fast 
as health and circumstances will permit. 

In the spring of 1812 Bishop Asbury came 
through Fredericksburg, and I traveled with him 
to Leesburg, the seat of our conference. He 
preached several times by the way, and I was 
much profited by his preaching and conversation. 



262 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



At our conference in Leesburg the delegates to 
the General Conference were chosen. The Gene- 
ral Conference met in New- York on the first day 
of Maj. Christopher Frye, William Eyland, and 
myself, were entertained at the house of Abraham 
Russellj Esq. His was a very hospitable and 
kind family indeed. 

In 1812 and 1813 I traveled on Calvert cir- 
cuit, as I have already stated. The war was then 
raging, and the British were in the bay. These 
were times of trouble, but I did not labor in vain. 
Some of the fruit is safely housed in heaven, and 
some is still ripening for glory. I could write 
much here, but I must forbear. In 1814, in Great 
Falls circuit again — 1815, in Baltimore circuit — 
1816, Severn— 1817, Prince George's and St. 
Mary's — all in Maryland. In 1818 I returned to 
Great Falls circuit once more. Our third quar- 
terly meeting was held at the Fork Meeting-house, 
January the 2d and 3d, 1819, where I received a 
letter from my brother-in-law, informing me that 
my father was very ill, and wished to see me be- 
fore he Avent hence, and urging me to hasten 
home or I should not find him alive. I went as 
far as Baltimore, Sunday evening, and got home 
Tuesday, the 5th, about noon, and found my father 
still living, but very ill indeed. He said, " I 
wished to see you once more before I died. I have 
made my will, and set my servants all free, (they 
were all young,) the boys at twenty-five years of 



AN OLD ITINERANT, 



268 



age, and the girls at twenty-one ; and I have ap- 
pointed you and your brother Michael to execute 
my wilL And now that I see you again I am 
ready to go, whenever it shall please the Lord to 
call me/' He rejoiced abundantly in the Lord, 
and sometimes seemed as though he would take 
wings and go at once. On the 28th he left a 
world of pain and sorrow, in the seventy-ninth 
year of his age, while I was kneeling by his bed- 
side, commending his redeemed spirit to God who 
gave it. I was with him by day and night, (ex- 
cept a few hours in the latter part of the night,) 
from the time I went home until he died — I 
hardly ever left him. Though much worn down by 
sorrow, fatigue, and loss of rest, yet it afforded me 
high gratification to have the privilege of waiting 
on and nursing such a father. My father had 
good common sense, was industrious, and possessed 
a business turn of. mind. He was a pretty good 
German scholar. I have often wished that I had 
as much mind as my father. After he came to 
America, he soon learned to read English, and 
studied hard to understand what he read. He 
was remarkably fond of reading, and toward the 
latter part of his life read scarcely anything but 
English. He had preaching at his house for 
many years, but did not formally attach himself 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church till after I had 
entered the traveling connection. "When he took 
in preaching some of his neighbors seemed to pity 



264 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



him, and said, the Methodists would soon eat him 
out of house and home. But, thanks to the Lord, 
he always had bread enough, and some to spare. 
My father had his difficulties and trials in life, but 
he was a man of God, and bore up under them, 
and endured to the end. The prospect of meet- 
ing him in heaven gives me great pleasure. I 
believe he was beloved by a Christian people who 
knew him, and had the confidence of all his neigh- 
bors — both saints and sinners. 

Perhaps it may not be amiss to give a short history 
of his colored people. My father could not con- 
scientiously leave them in bondage, or entail them 
on his children. I was delighted. But few peo- 
ple in the free states can have an idea of the 
difficulties attending the emancipation of slaves in 
Virginia. The law forbids their staying in the 
state more than one year after they are free. If 
found there after one year, they are liable to be 
taken up and sold as slaves. There were nine of 
them, all healthy and young; and I took care 
that they were set free so soon as their term of 
service expired; but how much their condition 
was bettered let others judge. An able-bodied 
young man, and a first-rate farm hand, went with a 
family who owned a woman that he wished to have 
as a wife, high up in Yirginia, where he was sold 
into slavery; but, driving a team down to Win- 
chester, (as I have been informed,) where he was 
known, he was again set at liberty. One followed 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



265 



her husband into Maryland, and I believe is pro- 
tected by the family who owns her husband. Two 
others have slave husbands, and are doing very 
poorly indeed — but still hanging about in Virginia. 
Another went with my brother-in-law to Ohio. 
Another, a very nice woman, was about to be 
taken up and sold, and had to leave her husband, 
(a slave,) and got to Pittsburg, I believe. An- 
other, a very healthy, strong young man, wander- 
ed about from place to place, after he got free, 
and has served five years in the penitentiary. 
And another, also a young, strong man, left Vir- 
ginia with the intention of coming to me, but was 
taken up as a runaway, and put in Frederick jail. 
I had him released ; and when he came to me I 
promised him a home and protection, as far as I 
could go, and to get him good places to live, and 
see that he had justice done him, if he would take 
advice and behave himself ; but he soon left the 
place I got him, just in the commencement of har- 
vest, and hired himself to another man, and, after 
some time, left that place, and went to Baltimore, 
where he got into bad company, and was taken 
up and put into jail for stealing, and sold, I know 
not where. Now these people were all strongly 
advised to form no connection with slaves, that 
when they got free they could go to some free 
state, &c. 

In the spring of 1819 I was indulged with an- 
other appointment on Winchester circuit. Brother 



266 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Tobias Riley was my colleague. At my particu- 
lar request I was released from having charge 
of the circuit, as I should have to attend to some 
worldly business, which was a great burden to me. 
It, however, had this good effect — it led me to 
sympathize with good men, who are obliged to be 
engaged from day to day in worldly business, and 
have almost every sort of men to deal with. This 
year we had some prosperity, and also some 
trials. 

In the spring of 1830 our conference met in 
Georgetown, where the delegates to the General 
Conference were elected. The presiding elder 
question was then agitated, particularly in the 
northern and eastern conferences. Most, if not 
all of these conferences, voted with reference to 
measures as well as for men. Our conference 
was easy on the subject, and sent a mixed dele- 
gation. I was not a delegate, and consequently 
do not know much of the acts and doings of 
that conference, though I was frequently present 
as a spectator, being that year appointed to Fell's 
Point station, with brother Beverly AVaugh, who 
had been there the year before. I was at my 
post in time. There was, however, some difficulty 
in getting board for me. It was very inconvenient 
for brother TTaugh to board me ; but he kindly 
took me in without fee or reward, till a perma- 
nent home could be provided for me. Brother 
Metzger afterward took me in for a few weeks 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



267 



longer, till some time in June ; but I did not think 
it right to be sponging on kind families in this 
way ; still the stewards could get no place to board 
me in the station, for love or money. There was 
no misunderstanding between me and the stewards, 
or any of the members, that I knew of; but I 
could not help thinking that things looked a little 
squally, and I began to feel a little U7ipop-lar, 
My good friend, Mrs. Gough, would have boarded 
me without any reward, but she lived out of the 
station when in town, and out of the city in the 
summer, and I knew that would not do. Bishop 
M'Kendree was still in the city, (sometimes at Dr. 
Wilkins's,) in bad health and poor spirits. He 
wished to travel, but could not, for the want of a tra- 
veling companion to help him along. I had known 
him for many years, and he knew me. I really 
pitied him, and, meeting him at Mrs. Gough's, I 
offered myself to him as his aid ; he seemed quite 
pleased, and readily accepted my offer, provided the 
station could be provided for. The local preach- 
ers in the station and city agreed to supply my 
place in the pulpit, and brother Waugh was left 
to do all the pastoral work himself. This was 
hard ; but he was young, and strong, and willing 
to work. You know, doctor, the local preachers 
work for nothing, and board themselves. [Yes, 
brother Smith, and some of us are thought dear 
at that. — Ed, of Ch. Ad, ^ Jour.^ For nothing, 
did I say ? No, rather, they are like the sainted 



268 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Valentine Cook. When a gentleman, with great 
simplicitj, inquired, " Mr. Cook, what do you g^t 
for preaching?" the reply was, "Only a crown, 
sir." " A crown !" " Yes, sir, and I trust for that 
till the day of judgment." 

On the 19th of June, I sat out from Dr. Wil- 
kins's with Bishop M'Kendree ; and we visited 
churches and families on our way to Frederick City 
— namely. Ward's, Bennett's, Elliott's, and Gore's, 
and then A. Warfield's. In every place the bishop 
was able to preach, to the edification of the church, 
and left a blessing in every neighborhood and 
family. Thence to Liberty, Winstead's, Willis's, 
and Frederick ; then to Samuel Phillips's ; thence 
to Thomas Keys's. In Jefferson county, Virginia, 
I became acquainted with this good brother, 
when he was under conviction, and seeking the 
Lord. His convictions were deep, and his suffer- 
ings great, and he was driven from his father's 
house on account of his religion ; but he was 
powerfully and soundly converted, and was well 
prepared to endure persecution, as a good soldier 
of Jesus Christ. He became a useful local 
preacher. His house became a church for the 
neighborhood, and a very quiet and pleasant 
home for the preachers, where they were always 
made welcome and happy by him and his pious 
wife. We have more than once taken sweet 
counsel together in our youth, and in the sim- 
plicity of our first love. But dear Tommy Keys 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



has also left me, has gone ahead of me, and is now 
reaping his reward on high. Well, we shall soon 
meet again. The bishop preached in Charles- 
town, Brucetown, Thomas Baldwin's, Winchester, 
Stephensburg, Crum's Meeting-house, the White 
House, Sharpsburg, and in other places, besides 
many exhortations in families and private com- 
panies. In every place he was received as an 
angel of God, and his labors were greatly blessed 
to the people. He made use of the Shannondale 
and Sulphur Spring waters, and also those of Balinda 
Springs, near Sharpsburg, and gained strength. 

On our return to Baltimore we attended a camp 
meeting on Frederick circuit. The bishop's preach- 
ing put me in mind of former days, when he went 
forth in the vigor of his strength, and preached in 
the power and demonstration of the Spirit. Our 
visit to Virginia did not only improve the bishop's 
health, but was attended with great good to others. 
We soon returned to Baltimore, and about the last 
of September left that city for the south, and 
moved on slowly, visiting the churches in the fol- 
lowing places, namely, Washington, Georgetown, 
Alexandria, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, and many 
neighborhoods, on our way to Williamsburg. From 
thence to Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, 
Summerton, Murfreesburg, and through Tar- 
borough to Newburn, in North Carolina. From 
thence to Wilmington, and Georgetown, and so on 
to Charleston, preaching in many country places, 



270 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



as well as in cities and towns. We entered 
Charleston a few days before Christmas, and had 
summer's heat. The gardens and everything 
looked "gay and green " — green peas in full bloom, 
and fine lettuce in abundance. But before we left 
there, about the first of January, 1821, we had a 
heavy frost ; and on our way to Columbia (where 
the South Carolina Conference was to meet) we 
had snow, rain, sleet, and ice an inch thick. It 
was disagreeably cold ; and great were the sufier- 
ings of the people, white as well as colored. The 
houses were generally open, and the people 
thinly clad, and not prepared for such a change. 
Some of the oldest people said they never saw 
such a winter. There is something very chilling 
and disagreeable in a southern winter's air. In 
Columbia we met the conference. Bishop George 
presided; and a body of more holy, loving, and 
zealous ministers of Jesus Christ, I never saw. I 
never saw more strictness observed in the ex- 
amination of characters, in any conference. Plain, 
humble, cross-bearing men, as ready to wait on 
themselves as any other Methodist preachers, and 
remarkably kind and friendly to servants. From 
Columbia we came through Camden, Darlington, 
Marion, Lumberton, and so on to Fayetteville. 
From thence to Raleigh, North Carolina, where 
the Virginia Conference met. As I had some 
business to attend to before the Baltimore Con- 
ference came on, I left the bishop in the last of 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



271 



February in charge of brother Lewis Skidmore, 
and came on alone. Bishop George met me at 
Eichmond, by stage. Perhaps in no part of my 
life did I serve the church more faithfully and 
more usefully than while I was helping along our 
aged and afflicted superintendent. 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXXII. 

Dear Brother, — The conference met in Bal= 
timore early in March, 182L At the close of this 
conference I heard read out, " Northumberland 
district, H. Smith, P. E." This was the first time 
such an appointment was announced to me. I 
never once thought that I was qualified for such 
an office, and consequently never desired it. At 
that time it was not an enviable appointment, 
when "bishops' men" were looked upon with a 
suspicious eye. I feared this would be a harder 
appointment than I had ever had, and went with 
fear and trembling. A part of the district had 
just been transferred from the Genesee to the 
Baltimore Conference. I resolved, in the name 
of the Lord, to do the very best I could, and if I 
fell, to fall at my post preaching J esus, and cheer- 
ing my brethren on in this arduous work. 

The first quarterly meeting we held in William 
Morrison's barn, on Juniatta, Auckwick circuit. I 



272 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



was graciously assisted in my first effort, and the 
word took hold of tlie people's hearts, though we 
preached among the straw. Little or nothing had 
been done toward making provision for the preach- 
ers' families, and what little was contributed was 
given in produce, collected by the preachers from 
the different societies, and carried home in their 
saddlebags, or carryalls, or, in winter, in their 
yankee jumpers. We appointed the first pro- 
visional estimating committee. They went out 
and talked, and I believe calculated too, and 
brought in their report, thirty dollars, in addition 
to quarterage, (if he could get it,) for the preacher, 
his wife, and child. This was a poor beginning 
indeed. But we were resolved to persevere, and, 
if possible, carry the rule into effect. I found 
great prejudice in the district against making pro- 
vision for a preacher's family. But being a bache- 
lor myself, I could approach the subject with 
boldness, and advocate the cause of God and my 
poor suffering brethren. I talked in quarterly 
meeting conferences, and with the stewards, lead- 
ers, and private members, wherever I had an 
opportunity. The half I said would fill a volume ; 
for if ever I was in earnest to save my soul, I was 
in earnest to have better provision made for the 
families of my dear brethren. After repeated 
efforts I got the ear, and then found way to the 
hearts, of the people. I told them that men of 
talents and usefulness were nearly all man^ied, or 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



273 



would many, and we had no right to forbid them, 
and they would be sent where the people would 
be willing to support them, and their district would 
always be supplied with worn-out bachelors, and 
inexperienced boys, &c. I thought the North- 
umberland district might rise, so as to stand on the 
first list in the Baltimore Conference ; and this 
would be the case, if they would do their duty in 
making provision for the preachers' families, and 
there was no lack of means. All that was want- 
ing was system, and a good will, and they would 
always have an able and experienced ministry. 
This took with some, and something was done ; but 
we moved on very slowly. I do not recollect 
whether there was any parsonage on the district. 
It was thought that our camp meetings improved 
very much, and that great good was done at them. 
We also did something in the missionary and Sun- 
day-school causes. My rides were long, and my 
labors hard, for one of my strength, and I suffered 
a little at times, but had no wife or children to 
suffer with me, on account of my being an itin- 
erant preacher. I could write much, but must 
look to a close. 

During four years the harmony in our itinerant 
ranks was interrupted in one case only, and 
that was a serious one. Our proceedings in 
that case were founded in charity. The confer- 
ence, however, set aside the decision of the com- 
mittee, and expelled the poor fellow from our 
18 



274 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ranks. This happened in the commencement of 
the first year. We labored together the balance 
of my term in great peace and harmony. In the 
spring of 1825 we parted. The most of the 
preachers came in a body to my room, at brother 
Dryden's, in Baltimore. We prayed together, 
and fell upon each other's necks, and wept, and 
so parted to labor in different parts of the Lord's 
vineyard. 

My dear doctor, I really think I might say 
something on a subject that greatly agitated the 
M. E. Church for many years. At least I may 
speak of so much of it as came under my observa- 
tion. I mean the bishops' power, particularly in 
the appointment of the presiding elders. The ex- 
terior parts of our work had long felt the neces- 
sity of a more equal representation in our General 
Conference, and additional strength to the episco- 
pacy. The subject of a delegated General Con- 
ference was discussed, and the necessity of such 
an improvement in our economy was keenly felt. 
In May, 1808, the General Conference met in 
Baltimore. The distant conferences did what they 
could toward having an able representation in that 
conference. They came on, full of the subject of 
a delegated General Conference, &c. I had been 
but a few years from the west, and well knew the 
state of things there. I had traveled in deacon's 
orders four years and six months, mostly where 
my services as an elder were greatly needed. And 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



275 



why was this so ? Not because I had not been 
elected in due time, but because I could not meet 
with a bishop. Our good old bishops did what 
they could, and more than almost any other men 
in their circumstances would have done, but it 
was impossible for them to meet the wants of the 
church. At the General Conference an able com- 
mittee of two members from each annual confer- 
ence was appointed to take into consideration the 
subject of a delegated General Conference, &c. 
They brought in their report in favor of a dele- 
gated General Conference, and additional strength 
to episcopacy ; first settling and securing our 
standard doctrines, general rules, episcopacy, and 
a general superintendency. This report was ably 
debated, and always in full view of all the pre- 
rogatives the superintendents were vested with. 
An abridgment of the bishops' power was desired 
by many, particularly in that of appointing the 
presiding elders. Had it not been for this bone 
of contention the report would no doubt (with a 
little modification) have passed. Much was said 
on both sides of the question. Yea, so ingeniously, 
honestly, and ably, was the subject debated, that 
I have heard or read very little that was really 
new on that subject since. It was strongly ar- 
gued that if the restrictive rules stood in the way 
of a delegated General Conference, the bishops' 
power could never be touched but with the great- 
est difficulty, &c., &c. The whole report was 



276 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



finally voted down. This greatly afflicted the 
preachers from the different conferences, particu- 
larly those from the west. Burke's brow gathered 
a solemn frown ; Sale and others looked sad ; as 
for poor Lakin, he wept like a child. And they 
immediately said we might now as well go home, 
for we can do nothing here, the central confer- 
ences carry everything as they please. Our 
venerable Asbury, who presided alone in that 
conference, also trembled for the ark. This was 
a solemn and serious moment with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, for unity and harmony were in 
jeopardy. But after consideration and consultation 
were had, the subject of a delegated General 
Conference was again brought up, I have forgotten 
by whom, and the restrictive articles, as published 
in our form of Discipline, were passed separately. 
The motions, or resolutions, as we now call them, 
were made by different members. There was 
very little further opposition, and it passed by a 
large majority. This was strange. In this, how- 
ever, and in the election of William M'Kendree to 
the office of a superintendent, I have seen the 
hand of the Lord. Surely the Lord presided over 
our deliberations, and directed our course. Per- 
haps there was not a man among us who had 
sifted and analyzed our church government as did 
William M'Kendree, and no man understood its 
principles and bearings in its various parts better 
than he did. He was pointed out to us by kind 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



277 



Providence just when we needed such a man. We 
really thought the presiding elder question was 
now settled, and all further attempts to curtail the 
bishops' power at an end; especially as the General 
Conference still had them so completely in their 
power as to be authorized to expel them for 
improper conduct," and that without the privilege 
of appeal. Such a power no society, quarterly 
meeting conference, or annual conference, has 
over any of its members. But at the General 
Conference at New- York, May, 1812, these sub- 
jects were again as freely and warmly debated as 
ever. And the arguments of some of the speakers 
seemed to indicate that our constitution and our 
restrictive rules were mere cobwebs. A resolu- 
tion making the presiding elders elective by the 
annual conferences was lost by a majority of three 
votes only, (so say my notes.) It seems that some 
conferences kept this thing alive, and were wide 
awake ; but our conference, as well as some others, 
slept quite securely on this subject. 

At the General Conference in Baltimore, May, 
1816, the subject was again brought up, and de- 
bated with great ability. Some of the delegates 
came up with a determination to carry it through 
the conference at this time. But as we had just 
lost our beloved Asbury, and his remains were 
deposited by the General Conference under the 
pulpit of the church in Eutaw-street, moderation 
prevailed. One of the two bishops elected and 



278 



RECOLLECTIOI^S OF 



set apart at conference, was, however, said to favor 
the proposed aUeration of the Discipline. After 
this conference the presiding elder question was 
not only kept alive among the preachers, but it 
spread out among the local ministry and member- 
ship, and this mischievous thing respecting the 
appointment of the presiding elders was agitated 
for four years longer, and reform (so called) was 
gaining ground. 

In the spring of 1820 the General Conference sat 
again in Baltimore. The preachers in our con- 
ference had had much conversation on the subject 
of the reform that was contemplated ; especially 
as it was known that the northern and eastern 
conferences had elected, or would elect, their 
delegates with a view to carry their point. But 
our conference voted, some for men and measures, 
and others for men, without any regard to mea- 
sures. So our conference has again a mixed dele- 
gation, though there was still a majority for " old 
rules," as brother J. Frye used to say. This excit- 
ing subject, as it then began to be, was again brought 
up; (but greatly modified by compromise;) and 
finally the compromise resolutions were adopted. 
But after Bishop M'Kendree had entered his objec- 
tions to the rule as passed, because he thought it un- 
constitutional, &c., and Eev. Joshua Soule, bishop 
elect, had sent in his resignation, not (as I always 
understood) because he was elected under the old 
rule, but because he conscientiously believed it to 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



279 



be an infringement on our restrictive rules, and he 
could not act under the new rule, as passed by 
the conference — these resolutions were suspended, 
by a respectable majority, for four years. From 
this time the subject was fully before the church, 
and also before the world. Strong and good men 
were engaged on both sides of the question, and 
much was said; and some things were written 
and published, and not always in the language 
and spirit of brotherly kindness. Indeed, much 
was said that ought never to have been said by 
brothers in Christ; for confidence w^as shaken, 
and brotherly love began to wax cold. 

In August, 1823, our worthy Bishop George 
came from the north, through the Northumber- 
land district. He was much alarmed at the state 
of things, and had strong fears that there would be 
a split in the church, unless this little thing was 
ceded by the old side as a peace measure. I was 
sorry to differ in opinion from my good old friend 
and bishop. I really thought this would be pur- 
chasing peace at too dear a rate ; for if there v/as 
not an important principle involved in this "little 
thing," why did sensible men contend so earnestly 
and perseveringly for it ? And why did others, 
who understood it as well, so strenuously oppose 
the passage of such a rule ? The old side stood 
entirely on the defensive, and contended for w^hat 
they conceived to be the commencement of inno- 
vation, and an inlet to other evils. I had, for my 



280 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



own satisfactiorij opened a correspondence with 
preachers on every district in our conference, and 
had ascertained, to my entire satisfaction, that a 
majority of our conference went against any 
change in our government. I also communicated 
with Joshua Soule ; but he was cautious, for the 
time had nearly come when it might be said, 
"Trust ye not in any brother" on church govern- 
ment. Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXXIII. 

Dear Brother, — I must trouble you with 
another letter. I do not wish to revive unplea- 
sant feelings in any mind ; but I took an honest 
and lively interest in the controversy alluded to 
in my last, and whether I was right or wrong, it 
makes an important part of my narrative. In the 
fall I went to Yirginia, to see my friends and 
attend to some business. I called to see brother 
Hoszel in Loudon ; and although not easily dis- 
couraged, I found him so on the presiding elder 
question. We took the Minutes, and I put my 
finger upon every man's name that I had reason 
to believe was firm on the old side, and casting all 
doubtful eases in the opposite scale, we still had 
a majority, and we plainly saw that if we acted 
in concert we could send a delegation of old-side 
men to the General Conference. A short time 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



281 



before the conference in Winchester, Bishop 
George came to see me at my brother's. I al- 
ways loved him very much, and was glad to see 
him. We had much conversation on the exciting 
subject, and agreed in one thing at least, that the 
Baltimore Conference would decide the presiding 
elder question ; only he believed a majority 
would go for the suspended resolutions, and I had 
good reason to believe otherwise. The conference 
met in Winchester, according to appointment, and 
it looked a little like making preparations for a 
decisive battle, on which much depended. One of 
our worthy young men said, " We intend to call a 
meeting, make out our ticket, and send all old-side 
men of the right stamp." I called on brother Soule, 
and communicated to him what was upon hand. 
He, as well as myself, was opposed to any such 
meeting, but he thought that circumstances justi- 
fied a meeting where brethren might freely inter- 
change thoughts, and fix upon the men to repre- 
sent them in the General Conference. Brother 
Soule, however, despaired of success, and seemed 
to think it would be labor lost. A meeting was, 
however, called. Dr. Cook gave us the use of his 
room. John Bear, then one of our young men, 
was called to the chair, and the business of the 
meeting brought up ; and, after some conversation 
on the subject, a ticket was made out by ballot, 
which was afterward carried in conference on the 
first balloting. Our brethren who favored the 



282 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



change had a meeting the same night, and claimed 
the weight of talent; but our side claimed the 
weight of age and experience, as well as numbers. 
At this decision of the Baltimore Conference many 
rejoiced, and others were disappointed and deeply 
mortified. The Rey. Richard Reece, the British 
delegate, was present at this conference, and saw 
Joshua Soule and John Emory, two of our strong 
men, take opposite sides on the subject of reform, 
(rather incidentally brought on,) and put forth all 
their strength. 

The General Conference, in 1824, suspended 
the suspended resolutions^' four years longer, 
and the General Conference, in 1828, repealed 
them altogether. My dear doctor, I look back 
with great satisfaction upon the decisive part 
which the Baltimore Annual Conference took at 
this critical moment; and it should be set down 
to the credit of the young men who so nobly came 
forward to the aid of a few old men, to save the 
church in time of danger. For had the Balti- 
more Conference sent a mixed delegation, as 
they always had done — though a majority of the 
preachers, and a large majority of the people, were 
always opposed to the proposed change — a change 
would have taken place ; or had the Northumber- 
land district been divided, as some other districts 
were, the young men could not have carried their 
ticket entire for old-side men ; and there would, in 
all probability, have been a change in our govern- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



ment. I do not mean to say that Methodism would 
have been ruined if the suspended resolutions had 
been carried into effect : I only mean to say that, 
in my humble opinion, the whole itinerant machine 
would have been clogged, and more difficulties, 
and less satisfaction, would have attended the sta- 
tioning of the preachers than ever. And, besides, 
it would have opened the door to worse innovations 
instead of being an improvement. 

Events that took place between 1824 and 1828 
plainly showed that some traveling preachers, 
aided by some local preachers and lay members, 
wanted much more than to transfer the appoint- 
ment of the presiding elders from the bishops to 
the annual conferences. I always did believe that 
a large majority of the preachers wanted nothing 
more than to make the presiding elders elective, 
and as soon as they saw what was growing out 
of this controversy, they, like honest men, and 
lovers of our government, gave it up. The 
preachers soon found that the very arguments they 
made use of against the bishops' power in the ap- 
pointment of presiding elders, and the power of 
" bishops' men," were employed by local preachers 
and lay members against them. So warm was the 
contest, yea, so hot was the battle, that you, dear 
doctor, (radical, as they called you,) were called 
into the field of controversy to contend manfully, 
through the Itinerant," against innovation, [nay, 
but against revolution — Edit.] and as a common- 



284 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



tator on the discipline, government, and usages of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. I need not tell 
how the battle went on. Since that time Provi- 
dence has called you to a more elevated station on 
the walls of our Zion ; and I must allow, you are 
a vigilant watchman. You can descry enemies in 
disguise, as well as those who are avowedly so, 
and expose their insidious attacks upon the Me- 
thodist Episcopal Church, not only by argument, 
but by ridicule. Defending the government and 
usages of the church of your choice seems to be 
amusement, instead of hard labor. May your 
trumpet always give a certain sound ! 

Much evil was certainly done by the intemper- 
ate discussion of the presiding elder question, and 
other things that grew out of it. But the great 
Head of the church overruled everything for 
good, so as to bring good out of evil. After our 
church government has gone through such an or- 
deal, its principles are better understood, and the 
utility of its usages are more clearly seen, and 
consequently more highly and understandingly 
appreciated, than ever. 

In the spring of 1825 I was appointed to Berk- 
ley circuit again, where I traveled over some of 
my old ground ; but nearly all my old friends 
were either dead or removed. James Riley was 
my colleague. At my last visit to brother Riley's 
father's house, James was but a lad, and Tobias, 
his brother, a chubby, red-faced boy. Neither of 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



285 



them had been converted ; but now brother James 
has finished his course in the ministry, and gone 
before me. Tobias, who also entered the itine- 
rant connection, it is reported, (and I am afraid it 
is true,) has recently been deprived of sight.* 
Mysterious providence ! and I am permitted to 
live and write this on a dark day without glasses. 
Although objects at a distance are indistinct, and 
rather confused to my vision, and I am quite near- 
sighted, yet I can see to nib a pen better than I 
could ten years ago with the use of glasses. Mar- 
tinsburg was the principal appointment in the cir- 
cuit, where I found three promising young men, 
who afterward became preachers. George Hildt 
and John Poisal were licensed to exhort, and that 
year recommended to the district conference for 
license to preach, and to the annual conference 
for admission into the traveling connection. And 
lest that honorable body should refuse to recom- 
mend brother Poisal, on account of his youth, I 
wrote to the president, that I thought his youth 
ought to be no objection, as he had stability, and 
other qualifications. They, however, refused to 
recommend him, because he was but a lad. He 
was, however, employed by the presiding elder on 
the Harford circuit a part of the year. 

Charles Kalbfus was afterward licensed to 
preach, recommended to the conference, and en- 

* Brother Tobias Riley, since this was written, has, also, 
gone to the rest that remains for the people of God. 



286 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



tered into the traveling connection. These three 
brethren have for many years been before the 
public as ministers of Jesus Christ, and are well 
known to thousands. 

In 1826 and 1827 I traveled on Loudon circuit. 
In the spring of 1828 I was so far worn down with 
labor, and withal much afflicted with dyspepsia, that 
I thought it would be wrong for me to undertake 
to do effective work ; and I applied to the confer- 
ence for a respite from hard labor and responsi- 
bility for one year, in hopes of recovering my 
health and strength. The conference was pleased 
to indulge me. When I returned from the Gen- 
eral Conference, held in Pittsburg, I went to my 
brother's, in Frederick county, Ya., at the com- 
mencement of the harvest. The second day after 
I got home I rode into the harvest field, for I was 
so weak I did not feel able to walk that distance. 
The third day I walked, and soon began to lay my 
hands to such things as I could do, and gathered 
strength, and my appetite increased every day. 
The last day of harvest I undertook to rake after 
a cradler half a day, but was released by a neigh- 
bor who came into the field. I was out almost 
every day while they were getting in their har- 
vest. Now I was found pitching sheaves, then 
on the stack laying them, &c. It was my choice 
to do so, for I gathered strength every day. After 
this kind of exercise for six weeks, or two months, 
I recovered so far as to be able to do effective 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



287 



service. There was a vacancy in Fairfax circuit, 
so I turned in with brother John G. Watt, and 
we had some gracious displays of the power of 
God in the conversion of sinners. 

Early in March, 1829, I came down to Balti- 
more county, and went to see Rebecca Bosley, my 
intended bride, to whom I stood pledged, and on 
the 12th we were " well married," at least I think 
so, and I believe some others think so too. I shall 
assign no reasons for changing my state so late in 
life. I have been a child of Providence, and I 
own the hand of the Lord in this, as well as in a 
thousand other things. I do not say that I am an 
example in this thing to others ; but if any man 
has received this gift, and can serve God and his 
church as contented and happy as I did in single 
life, well ; if not, let him marry in the Lord. 

I was next appointed to York circuit, Penn., 
and lived in the parsonage in York, where I had 
a good garden, and worked it myself, and under 
God it was a means of keeping up my health and 
strength. In 1830 I was stationed in York. "We 
spent two pleasant years there, and had some re- 
freshing seasons, and many warm friends. In 1831 
and 1832 I traveled in Hagerstown circuit with 
my beloved brother, R. S. Vinton. He treated me 
as an affectionate son would a father, always ready 
to take hold of the heavy end of the work, and 
favor me. We lived in Hagerstown, where we 
had many friends. In this circuit we had some 



288 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



prosperity, and also some difficulties and trials. 
In 1833 I was again appointed to Baltimore cir- 
cuit. Brother T. B. Sargent was my affectionate 
colleague. I lived in the parsonage in Hookstown. 
I was truly glad to meet with many old friends, 
some of whom I had known for nearly thirty years, 
yet had no intention of driving down my stake 
here. But my next neighbor got into the spirit 
of moving, and offered his property for sale. I 
had laid up nothing, for I took little thought for 
to-morrow ; but I had fallen heir to a little money 
from my father's estate, and my wife had a little 
more coming to her from her father's estate, so 
we had it in our power to make the purchase, and 
secure a home. I knew that I could not get along 
much, if any, further. An old worn-out man to 
be palmed on a circuit, to do effective service, 
when he as well as the people know he cannot do it, 
is an affecting sight. True, it may be said. He 
has done much, and done it long ; but the people 
are apt to give the old man credit for what he has 
done, and say they love him very much, but they 
want some one that can push the work now. If 
the work is not pushed it will run down in any 
circuit. To be placed in such circumstances I 
dreaded more than death itself. We made it a 
matter of prayer, and consulted our friends. They 
thought the property was reasonable enough, and 
it seemed as if Providence had thrown it in our 
way. We soon closed the bargain. In 1834 I 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



289 



took possession of the house and lot, and on re- 
flecting that the Lord had provided a home for 
me, after many years' wanderings, without house 
or home, and just at the very nick of time when I 
must change my relation to the conference — for I 
plainly saw that I could no longer do effective 
work — I felt grateful to him for all his tender 
mercies over me, and called my home, " Pilgrim's 
Rest perhaps Pilgrim's Lodge would have been 
a more appropriate name, for this is not yet mt/ 
rest Circumstances have hitherto justified a be- 
lief that this is the very place pointed out by Pro- 
vidence to call a halt. I own but one acre of 
land, which I mostly work with my own hands. 
My hands have often been blistered, and are as 
hard and sun-burned as any gardener's, and I 
have been weary nigh unto fainting, when I rest- 
ed awhile, and then up and at it again. And what 
of all this, when I enjoy as good health as I could 
expect, have a good appetite, have peace of mind, 
and sleep sound! I do believe if some of our 
supernumerary, or even superannuated preachers, 
would seek some healthy country place, or village, 
and use more exercise in open and free air, they 
would do better than to be stewed in a city, or 
some large town, especially those who have been 
accustomed to hardy exercises in a free air in 
early life. I could say more on this subject. I 
am now in my seventy-third year, and have seen 
much affliction, and passed through some hard- 
19 



290 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ships, and, with the exception of the infirmities^ 
aches, and pains of age, I enjoy better health now 
than I did thirty years ago. And this I attribute, 
under God, to constant exercise. I sometimes sit 
about the house till I feel an inclination to groan 
with every breath. I then go out into the wood- 
yard, garden, or stable, and I always find some- 
thing to do, and soon get into a perspiration, and 
return to the house much relieved. I still do a 
little in the Lord's vineyard, but often think I 
might, and ought to do more. 

And now, my dear brother Bond, I will bring 
my poor narrative to a close. I have already 
taken up too much room in your excellent Advo- 
cate. I retire the more cheerfully as I see two 
able veterans in your paper entertaining and edi- 
fying us with anecdotes of "olden times." May 
God bless them, and crown their labors with suc- 
cess ! I may humbly say, in drawing up my nar- 
rative, my eye has been single. But I have la- 
bored under great disadvantage, such as no one 
but myself could feel. I say it to my shame, I 
have paid too little attention to the right use 
of language and composition in my early days, 
and never was fond of writing ; never wrote a 
sermon in my life. I met with hundreds of inter- 
ruptions, and misgivings, and discouragements. I 
have often been startled when it occurred to my 
mind that I was presuming to write for the Chris- 
tian Advocate and Journal ; and had not you and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



291 



others encouraged me, I should have made short 
work of it. If I have done any good hj my scrib- 
blings, to God be all the glory. To me it is so 
much clear gain, for I little expected that I could 
be useful in this way. In retrospecting my life I 
have seen much that calls for increased gratitude 
to God, and also much to be ashamed of. If I 
never repented for my many faults before, I have 
since I have been writing this narrative. So you 
see while I have taken some notice of the faults 
of others, I have never been allowed to lose sight 
of my own. But I have now done, and if it were 
not done, it is not likely that it ever would or 
could be done. 

I beg leave to subscribe myself, once more, your 
very unworthy, but affectionate, and much obliged, 
friend and brother, Henry Smith. 



LETTER XXXIV. 

Dear Brother, — Is it so, that our beloved 
John Kobler is no more ? Or rather, has he 
fallen asleep in Jesus ? Yes, you have published 
it to the world. Blessed man of God ! he has got 
the start of me, and is now reaping the reward of 
all his labors, privations, and toils. He was always 
ahead of me, and it was meet that he should 
first cease from labors and enter into his rest. 
" To die is gain." As there is not a man in the 



292 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Baltimore Conference, and but a few elsewhere, 
who knew him longer and better than I did, I 
take pleasure in recording a few recollections of 
him. He was a few years older in the ministry 
than myself, and was one of the pioneers in the 
western parts of Virginia, what we then called Hol- 
ston district, including a part of Tennessee. I first 
saw him at the conference held at Bethel, Kentucky, 
April, 1797. He was appointed by Bishop As- 
bury to take charge of the Kentucky district. In 
1798, he volunteered to be the first missionary to 
the north-western territory; and as I had the honor 
to succeed him, I knew something of his hardships, 
his labors, and his success, and of the high estima- 
tion in which he was held by the people there. 
A few years after this he returned with a broken 
constitution and a shrieking voice ; and, as was 
common in those days, took a location, and retired 
to the place of his nativity, in Culpepper county, 
Ya. As he was disqualified for itinerant work, 
he married, and became a farmer, and used much 
manual exercise, for he could not be idle. He 
sustained the relation of local preacher for many 
years, for he Avas too modest to express a wish to 
be readmitted into the traveling connection when 
he could not do effective service. But a few years 
ago the Baltimore Conference took him up. And 
although he was but little known in that conference, 
he had many friends, and they gave him a hearty 
welcome and a cordial readmission, and placed 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



293 



him on the superannuated list. This was the 
more cheerfully done, as the conference were fully 
satisfied that he would do honor to that class of 
ministers, and make no demands on the funds of 
the conference. 

After I became intimately acquainted with that 
excellent man, I felt as if I should be entirely 
safe in making him my confidant, and taking him 
for my pattern and guide under Christ. He was 
greatly my superior in gifts and grace, but he con- 
descended to take me to his bosom, and became 
my friend, and we were closely united. I never 
knew a man more uniformly and entirely devoted 
to God. Company, time, place, circumstances, 
made no visible change in John Kobler. He 
was always and everywhere the same humble, 
unassuming, sweet-spirited, heavenly-minded man. 

0 how often have we retired together from some 
log-cabin to a lonely place for private prayer, and 
embraced, and wept over each other's necks, and 
sometimes shouted aloud for joy, that we were 
accounted worthy to suffer a little in the cause 
of Christ ! I have known many of the excellent 
of the earth, both among the preachers and mem- 
bership, but a more humble, guileless, holy man, 

1 never saw than my friend John Kobler. He 
was a great Bible reader, and also had read all 
our standard works, that were within his reach ; 
and in doctrine he was sound. No man disliked 
religious disputes or controversy more than he 



294 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



did. He preached what be found in his Bible 
and firmly believed, and but seldom meddled with 
other people's "isms." Experimental and prac- 
tical religion was his theme. The entire depravity 
of human nature, redemption by Christ, repentance 
toward God, justification by faith, the witness of 
the Spirit, entire sanctification, and hoHness of life, 
were prominent subjects with him, and were ever 
before him. In description he was excellent — 
sometimes grand — and would carry a whole con- 
gregation with him. In his person he was pre- 
possessing, and always neat in his dress, even in 
a log-cabin. In the pulpit he was always solemn 
and dignified. His action was natural and grace- 
ful. His voice was excellent ; and when his 
heart was warmed with his subject (and when 
was it otherwise ?) his noble voice was employed 
to purpose, and the effects were surprising. This 
is something like John Kobler in his best days. 

Many years after I parted with him in the west 
I met with him again in Fredericksburg ; but O 
what a change ! His voice was broken, and gave 
an unnatural sound. It produced some painful 
sensations in my mind, for I recollected how often 
I had been charmed by his voice, as well as pro- 
fited by his ministry. A man so holy and so 
entirely devoted to his work, and so exemplary in 
his life, could not fail to be useful anywhere, for 
he was always preaching. His very look was 
preaching to some people. No wonder he com- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



295 



manded respect from all, and was so highly es- 
teemed by his own church. In our beloved 
brother we saw gravity without gloom, and cheer- 
fulness without levity. In him we saw the graces 
of the Spirit brought to maturity, and shining forth 
resplendently. Forty-six years have rolled away 
since I first saw that worthy minister of Jesus 
Christ, and during that time nothing has occurred 
to weaken my confidence in him, or to slacken the 
cords of love that first bound me to him. 

I saw him when he was going on his begging 
expedition for the church at Fredericksburg, and 
obtained a promise of a visit from him on his 
return. We met rejoicing, as we had often done, 
and parted commending each other to God by 
prayer ; but on his return circumstances deprived 
me of the privilege and pleasure of introducing 
him to my family and friends. I regretted the 
disappointment, but did not blame him, as he had 
been long from his beloved family. "Well, it 
makes very little difference now, for we shall soon 
meet where tears shall be wiped away, and be 
reunited " where parting will be no more.'' 

And now, my dear doctor, I hope you will 
pubhsh this humble testimony, and feeble, but 
sincere, tribute of respect to a departed friend. 
And while my heart is warmed up by reflection 
on past events, and pleasing anticipation of future 
bliss, I will write a little more about old Prince 
George's and St, IMary's. 



296 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



St. Mary's had been a separate circuit for 
years, but was now reunited to Prince George's. 
Brother James Sewell was my colleague. We 
had twenty-eight regular preaching places, besides 
occasional appointments, and a pretty large tract 
of country to ride over ; in one place twenty-five 
miles before preaching at eleven o'clock. The 
outlines of the circuit were as follows : — Sunday 
at the African meeting-house in the old fields, not 
far from Bladensburg, were we had a large soci- 
ety of colored people, converted and collected 
through the instrumentality of a few colored men 
in that neighborhood. They were Methodistical 
in doctrine and in discipline, with the exception 
of a few rules peculiar to themselves. As they 
were mostly slaves, they administered corporeal 
punishment for some offenses, and in some other 
cases they would not suffer them to come into the 
congregation, but sit or stand at the door for a sea- 
son. I inquired of one of the old leaders if these 
things were so. He said, " Yes," and that it 
answered a very good purpose too. They were 
then taken charge of by the preachers. I under- 
stood one of the old men said, The preachers 
take off the bridle, and we cannot manage them 
so well now," for the society was regulated agree- 
ably to Methodist rules. This was upon the 
whole a simple-hearted, devoted people. Thence 
to Oxin Hill, Piscataway, Col. Beal's in Clark's 
county, and so on to Chickamuxen, on Sunday. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



297 



Thence through Port Tobacco and on toward 
Leonardstown ; thence to Hewitt's, on St. Geor- 
ge's River, a Sunday appointment ; from Hewitt's 
to St. Mary's River; thence to point Look Out, 
on the bay, and then up the Patuxunt River to 
Smith's Meeting-house, another Sunday appoint- 
ment; thence on toward Nottingham, and then 
through Upper Marlborough toward Miss Betsey 
Gant's, and so on to the beginning, including 
three counties, and perhaps a small part of Ann 
Arundel. It is well known that the Roman 
Catholic pilgrims first landed at St. Mary's River, 
and thence spread over that country. But still 
the Protestants were numerous. I was informed 
by an intelligent gentleman that, some years be- 
fore I came on, the strength of the two parties had 
been pretty fairly tried at an election, and the 
Protestants had a majority. But as there was 
but one denomination of Protestants there, and 
their preachers few, and greatly deficient in evan- 
gelical views of gospel truth, and wanting in zeal 
for the cause of God, the Papists made many 
proselytes. This was the state of things when 
the Methodist preachers first went down to that 
country. I am not able to say who were their 
first preachers ; but I frequently heard the people 
speak of N. Willis, T. Currin, and A. Hemphill. 
The priests became alarmed, and forbid their peo- 
ple to hear the Methodists ; but so great was their 
curiosity, so strong their desire to hear for them- 



298 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



selves, that all the threats of the priests, and even 
the curses denounced against them, could not pre- 
vent some from hearing these strange men. And 
although their success among the Roman Catho- 
lics was not great, yet some believed and turned 
to the Lord, and became zealous and valuable 
members of our church ; among whom was Bene- 
dict Wemsett. He lived near a cove on the Pa- 
tuxunt River. Although addicted to dissipation, 
he was a zealous Catholic ; but he bought a 
family Bible, (I think at a sale,) and read it. 
Light was poured into his understanding, and a 
conviction of the exceeding sinfulness of sin was 
brought home to his heart. He became greatly 
alarmed, and in deep distress of mind sought 
relief in the use of the ceremonies of his church, 
but found no rest to his soul. He read the Bible, 
wept, and sought the Lord in the best way he 
knew. His father and mother, and all his friends, 
yea, his own wife, rose up against him. His wife 
had been a nominal Protestant, but was a prose- 
lyte to the Romish faith, and as violently opposed 
to him as any of them. I think it was on Easter 
Monday a Methodist preacher had an appoint- 
ment to preach in that neighborhood. Poor 
Benedict wished to go and hear for himself, but 
his wife opposed him. He, however, gave her 
the slip, and went to meeting. When he was 
missed, she suspected where he had gone, and 
followed him, and remained during the sermon. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



299 



When class meeting was proposed, she rose to 
go out, but when she got to the door she looked 
back, and saw her husband keep his seat. She 
determined not to leave him, and turned back, but 
before she got to a seat she was powerfully ar- 
rested by the Spirit of God, and fell to the floor, 
and cried aloud for mercy. She was soon sur- 
rounded by a few praying people, who pointed her 
to Jesus Christ, and exhorted her to go at once to 
the sinner's Friend, and to go just as she was and 
confess to him. She did so, and, thank God, she 
soon found that she did not confess in vain, for he 
wrote pardon on her heart, and sent forth the 
Spirit of adoption, enabling her to cry, Abba, 
Father, and she went home rejoicing in the Lord. 
But poor Benedict went home a burdened, heavy- 
laden sinner. Although he rejoiced in the happy 
conversion of his wife, (for now one great obsta- 
cle was removed out of his way,) his conviction 
was deepened, his sorrow for sin increased, and 
his distress was great. After a deep and painful 
travail of soul, he also found the Lord in the par- 
don of his sins. And so great was the change, 
and so entirely satisfactory was the witness he had 
in himself that the work was of God, that he went 
rejoicing all the day long, and never once doubted 
of his conversion. He once said to me, "The 
Lord knew what I would have to encounter, and 
he made it so plain to me that I could not doubt." 
Poor fellow, he had much to contend with. Fa- 



300 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



ther and mother, priest, and all, were now dread- 
fully enraged. While he was an open and 
notorious sinner they could put up with him, but 
now it seemed as though his nearest friends could 
stand by and see him burned alive. The princi- 
ples and persecuting spirit of Popery are the 
same in this country as elsewhere; but, thank 
God, they cannot break out as where it has entire 
sway. But Wemsett read his Bible, and having 
a pretty ready apprehension, and a retentive me- 
mory, he was soon more than a match for all his 
adversaries in argument. The Bible, the blessed 
book of God, was his strong fort. And it was 
truly astonishing what a knowledge of the Scrip- 
tures he soon acquired. 

Mrs. Wemsett being so powerfully converted, 
she could pray without her beads, and gave them 
to Sealy, their servant woman ; but it was not 
long before Sealy got converted also, and I do not 
know what became of the beads. This man and 
his little family were now happy all the day long. 
So great was the change in the man, and so evi- 
dently were his circumstances improved, that open 
opposition had measurably subsided when I knew 
him. Although he was not rich, yet he could 
treat the preachers when they came to see him 
with a dish of as fine oysters, fresh out of his cove, 
as I ever saw, and did it as cheerfully. He after- 
ward became a local preacher. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



301 



In Nottingham (the upper part of our circuit) 
we preached at the house of Capt. Griffith. One 
night, while I was preaching there, the spirit of 
solemnity fell upon the congregation, and the 
hearts of the people appeared to be impressed. 
After preaching I was induced to leave the stand, 
and move through the congregation, talking to 
them as I went. I fixed my eye on a lad in the 
further part of the house. When I came to him 
I laid my hand on his head, and spoke to him, 
and also asked him questions. I think he wept, 
and trembled too. I do not recollect what he said, 
or whether he said anything ; but one thing I 
know, he set out from that hour to seek the Lord 
in earnest. The boy was Chas. B. Tippett, for 
many years past an enterprising, laborious, and 
successful member of the Baltimore Conference. 
Poor Charles had a pretty hard time of it, for he 
lived with an uncle who kept a tavern, where he 
was surrounded by many snares and temptations ; 
but Charles stood his ground, more like a man 
than a boy. Whenever I was at Capt. Griffith's, 
Charles (if he could get off) would come and 
spend part of the evening with me, to hear me 
talk, and inquire about the good way. Though 
he had so few advantages, and many discourage- 
ments, he persevered, and happily found the Lord 
when alone in his room. In former days it was 
more common for people to get converted in 



302 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



this way than in these latter days ; but no matter 
whether it is at the " mourners' bench/' on an 
" anxious seat," in the woods, or in a room alone, 
so that it is done by the Lord — then it will be 
well done. Charles has given pretty good evi- 
dence that he was converted by the Lord. Now 
if I should have done no other good while on that 
circuit than been in any degree an instrument in 
the conversion of Charles B. Tippett, I shall have 
done good service to the church ; for while I am 
laid by as a broken reed, my son in the gospel is 
driving on courageously and successfully, and has 
never yet learned the art of sparing himself in the 
work of the Lord. Go on, my son, and do still 
more valiantly for the truth. 

My dear doctor, if this savors a little of vanity, 
I hope your readers will pardon me, for we old 
people have little to cheer us but the consolations 
of religion, reflection on some past events, and a 
pleasing prospect of future happiness. 

While on this circuit a camp meeting was ap- 
pointed to be held some time in August, 1816, at 
Hallowing Point, (generally called Hallin Point,) 
Calvert circuit. This was the first meeting of the 
kind that was held in that section of country. 
Everything was new to the people, and thou- 
sands attended. And being contiguous to our 
circuit, my colleague and I both attended. The 
ground was flat, but pleasantly situated for a dry 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



303 



camp meeting. The Lord was very present at 
this meeting, and many converts were made to 
camp meetings, and many were added to the Lord. 
We had no rain, and it was a pleasant season 
throughout. O how many of the preachers, as 
well as people, who were at that meeting are now 
in another world ! A favorable report went abroad 
from this camp meeting, and the following August 
they must needs have another on the same ground. 
We had much rain, so as to produce a flood. 
Bridges were washed away, and the roads were 
much torn up. Our ground was flat, so that the 
water could not run oiF, and consequently it was 
literally covered with water. The people were 
so anxious to come to the meeting that some in- 
firm and sick people were brought there. Nearly 
all the tents were badly constructed, for few knew 
how to put up a tent so as to turn rain. This 
meeting was rather the reverse of the former, for 
while the other was attended with uninterrupted 
delight and almost enthusiastic joy, at this we 
heard lamentation and wo. But the great Head 
of the church was better to us than all our fears, 
and good was done under all these disadvantages. 
We had no death in our camp, and I heard of 
none who received any serious injury ; so far from 
it, that some of our sick were better after they 
returned to their homes than when they left them. 
I could relate some remarkable cases. The lower 



304 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD ITINERANT. 

part of our circuit was sickly, but my young col- 
league and myself enjoyed common health, and 
labored harmoniously together, and had a plea- 
sant year with that simple-hearted and loving 
people. 

I am again permitted to subscribe myself your 
affectionate and obliged friend and brother, 

Henry Smith. 



Cetter0 ©nghmllg ^pxtbUsfj^b 



THE WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. 



20 



RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 



LETTER 1. 

TO REV. WILLIAM BURKE. 

Dear Brother, — On September 14, 1799, I 
preached my first sermon, at the house of my old 
friend and brother, Francis M'Cormick, on the Lit- 
tle Miami ; and I can assure you we had a very inte- 
resting meeting. We embraced religion, and began 
to exhort about the same time ; and went far and 
near to hold meetings together. We were often op- 
posed, mocked, and derided ; but all this led us into 
closer union with God and with each other. Our 
songs and prayers were turned into ridicule ; and 
some said, if they could pray no better than we 
did, they would not attempt it. One of M'Cor- 
mick's old associates, returning one night from one 
of his frolics, was amusing himself about our re- 
ligious exercises, particularly our songs and pray- 
ers ; but in a moment he saw (or thought he saw) 
the Lord Jesus Christ hanging on the cross. His 
mirth was soon turned into mourning, and his 
levity gave way to tears. He rode by his lodging 
to brother M'Cormick's : the family had retired to 
rest, for it was very late. He rapped at the door, 
and called. As soon as the door was opened, he 



308 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



stepped in, and fell upon his knees, and begged 
brother M'Cormick to pray for him. At first 
they thought he was intoxicated, and in jest, but 
soon found that he was sober, and in earnest. He 
was a man naturally of a strong mind, had read 
much, and was well informed. He continued in 
deep distress for several weeks ; when he was 
happily converted under the pathetic and powerful 
preaching of Doctor TifFen. The congregation 
was large, and assembled under the open heavens. 
Many of this man's friends were there, and all the 
congregation knew him. When he shouted aloud 
the praise of God, the whole assembly was deeply 
affected. He went into class meeting with us. 
The class was met in an upper room. So great 
was the curiosity to see and hear what was done 
in class meeting, that the stair steps were crowded, 
and some got upon the trees that stood round the 
house, to look through the windows. One daring 
sinner, the bully of the neighborhood, swore he 
would see, and forced his way up stairs. Our new 
convert met him ; his heart burned with love, and 
he took him by the hand, and began to talk to him, 
and exhort him to turn from the evil of his ways. 
The poor fellow made several efforts to say some- 
thing, but could not get a word out : he looked 
confounded, and felt confused, and could say 
nothing ; but, as he retreated, (which he did very 
soon,) he said to our friend, " I wish you well" — and 
so left us to hold our happy meeting without fur- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



309 



ther interruption. This was a high daj with us 
poor persecuted Methodists. 

At another time, brother M'Cormick and my- 
self had a meeting appointed about four miles 
from home. When we got near the place we met 
two females, who begged us with tears not to go 
further, "for," said thej, "there is a gang there, 
who are determined to mob you." It was my 
friend's turn to open the meeting. We had a 
little conversation, and determined in the name of 
Jesus, our good Master, to go forward. My friend 
begged that I would take the lead, as I appeared 
to be inspired with more courage that evening 
than he had — some of his near relations being 
among the persecutors. We held our meeting in 
peace, for the Lord was on our side, and also the 
greater part of the congregation, who were de- 
termined to defend us, if any one molested us ; so 
Satan was defeated, and good was done. After 
the meeting was concluded, we went through the 
crowd, but none said a word to us. 

These are only a few cases among many. Hav- 
ing such a training, we were somewhat prepared 
to endure hardness, and face rough people in the 
western wilderness. Pardon this digression, as it 
has some connection with the history of the pio- 
neers of Methodism in Ohio. It was my strong 
attachment to my old friend, together with his 
repeated and earnest solicitations, and also the ad- 
vice of my friend Kobler, that led me the more 



SIO RECOLLECTIONS OF 

cheerfully to consent to go to Ohio. In my mind 
I now see my dear brother Kobler standing before 
me, and saying, " Go, brother Smith ; do go over 
and help them — they want you." I am, as ever, 
your friend and brother, Henry Smith. 



LETTEE II. 

TO SAMUEL WILLIAMS, ESQ. 

Dear Sir, — As I have been solicited by seve- 
ral of my brethren in the west to write something 
for your society, I ventured to make a beginning 
in a letter to my old friend, the Rev. William 
Burke. What I do in this way must be done 
quickly. I am the more encouraged to write, as 
your society gives great latitude, and seems dis- 
posed to exercise indulgence. 

Lewis Hunt, a young man from Kentucky, was 
appointed to travel the Miami circuit, in the year 
1799, by the presiding elder. We had heard that 
he was broken down, and I was sent to take his 
place. On the loth of September I sat out in 
company with brother F. M'Cormick, to meet 
brother Hunt on Mad River. We met him at 
brother Hamor's, and found him so far recovered 
as to be able to go on in his work. My instruc- 
tions were, that if he should be able to continue in 
the work, to go up to Scioto, and form a circuit 
there. We consulted our friends, and formed the 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



311 



plan of uniting Scioto to Miami, and making a 
six weeks' circuit of it. This plan was, however, 
abandoned, on account of the great distance be- 
tween the circuits, and the dismal swamp we 
would have have had to pass through every 
round. On the 18th I left brother Hunt, and 
returned to brother M'Cormick's. On Sunday, 
the 2 2d, for the first time, I heard the Rev. 
Philip Gatch. He was truly a very fine sam- 
ple of the first American Methodist preachers. 
He was born in Baltimore county, and was among 
the first-fruits of Methodism in Maryland. He was 
a plain and simple, but powerful preacher. His 
reliance for success appeared to be upon power 
from above, and it was given. I found him to be 
a meek-spirited, agreeable young man ; zealous 
in the cause, and always willing to give counsel 
when asked, but never intruding. The old vete- 
ran is gone to his reward, and I trust his praise 
is still in the western churches. I had the privi- 
ledge of giving an exhortation after him, and the 
Lord was truly with us in the congregation ; and 
in our class meeting some were much refreshed, 
and my own soul among others. Monday, 23d, I 
was unwell, but rode about ten miles on my way 
to my new field of labor, and lodged with a poor 
but pious Methodist family. Tuesday, 24th, I 
pursued my journey up the Ohio River, and put 
up with James Sargent, Esq., an old Methodist 
friend from Maryland, who received and treated 



312 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



me with all the kindness and hospitality of an old 
Maryland Methodist. Here I left two appoint- 
ments for my next round, which he promised to 
publish for me. Wednesday, 25th, I still pursued 
my course up the Ohio River. Sometimes I had 
a very intricate path, and sometimes none at all. 
But, by the aid of the Lord, in the evening I 
reached the house of a kind Presbyterian family. 
We spent the evening in conversation on the sub- 
ject of religion. The old gentleman, the head of 
the family, invited me to pray with them in the 
evening, and again in the morning, and, also, 
kindly invited me to call again when I came that 
way. I thanked them for their hospitality, but 
never had another opportunity of calling upon 
them. 

Thursday, 26th, I left this kind family at the 
mouth of Eed Oak, and started for Eagle Creek, 
and began to inquire for Methodists, as I had under- 
stood that some were living there ; but could hear 
of none. I took up Eagle Creek, and being di- 
rected to a family where I could get information, 
I rode up to the house, and asked the good man 
of the house if he could tell me where any of the 
people called Methodists lived. He said he could 
not; but he told me that his wife had formerly 
belonged to that society, and invited me to alight, 
and come in. While my horse was eating, I told 
them who I was, and my business — entered into 
conversation with them on spiritual things ; and 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



requested the man to call his family together. I 
prayed with them, and for them, and was much 
drawn out in prayer. I gave them a short ex- 
hortation, and left them all in tears. I rode about 
eight or nine miles, and inquired again for Me- 
thodists, and was directed to a poor man's cabin. 
I found the man and his wife in the corn-field. I 
called to him, and inquired if he could tell me 
where I could find any of the people called 
Methodists. He leaped over the fence, and ran 
to me, and took me by the hand with all the cor- 
diality of an Irishman. I told him my name and 
business ; and he received me with every expres- 
sion of joy. He called to his wife, Jane, and con- 
ducted me in triumph to his cabin. Jane soon 
came home, in corn-field habiliments, it is true ; 
but she soon washed herself, and changed her 
dress, and made me as welcome to their cabin as 
her husband : such a reception was worth a day's 
ride. If I was but poorly qualified for a missionary 
in every other respect, I was not in one thing ; 
for I had long since conquered my foolish pre- 
judice about eating, drinking, and lodging. I 
could submit to any kind of inconvenience when 
I had an opportunity of doing good ; for I thought 
myself highly honored to be permitted to labor in 
any part of the Lord's vineyard. My call was 
among the poor, and among them I could feel 
myself at home. Jane got us something to eat. 
I do not recollect what it was ; but one thing I 



314 



BECOLLECTIONS OF 



perfectly recollect — we ate our morsel with glad- 
ness, and our hearts were made to burn within us 
while we talked about Jesus. In time of family- 
prayer the power of the Lord came down upon 
us, and the place was filled with his glory. The 
good people had taken their poor horse into their 
cabin the previous winter, and of course it was 
not as pleasant as it might have been ; but He, 
who had condescended to be born in a stable, had 
made it delightful by his presence. When bed- 
time came, poor Jane brought from her chest as 
clean white sheets as ever came from Ireland, 
(for she brought them from there,) and spread 
them on my bed. I laid me down in peace, slept 
soundly, and rose refreshed. 

Henry Smith. 

LETTER III. 

Dear Sir, — My Irish brother informed me 
that there were three or four more Methodist 
families still higher up the creek, who had form- 
ed themselves into a society, and met on Sundays 
for prayer and class meetings. Friday, 27th, I 
rode to old brother Foster's ; and there the dear 
family received me with open arms and joyful 
hearts. I preached, on Saturday the 28th, to 
eighteen or twenty people, with a degree of 
liberty, and the word seemed to find way to their 
hearts. Sunday, 29th, I preached at Peter Ran- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



315 



kin's, four or five miles down Eagle Creek, to a 
small but attentive congregation; this was the 
place where the society met for prayer ; and the 
poor starving sheep fed freely upon the bread of 
life. Monday, 30th, I rode to the house of brother 
Warmsley, on Ohio Brush Creek, with whom I had 
been acquainted in Kentucky. In family worship 
the Lord was present in power ; the dear family 
were all melted into tears, and the room appeared 
to be filled with glory and God. We sung and 
talked about Jesus and his love, and shouted aloud 
for joy. Who would not shout the praises of God, 
for such an unexpected but seasonable visitation 
of divine mercy ? Word was sent out, and I 
preached on Tuesday, the 31st, at William Bur- 
kitt's, to a small congregation, the country being but 
sparsely settled, and the notice short. I stood up 
among them, and cried, " I Am hath sent me unto 
you !" Some poor sinners were deeply affected, 
and seemed to feel as though the Lord had sent 
me to them ; and the Lord's poor mourning chil- 
dren had no doubt of it. It was worth while to 
suffer a little to meet with such a scene and 
with such a reception. Here a society was al- 
ready formed, by Joseph Moore, a local preacher 
from Scioto Brush Creek, and Simon Fields was 
their leader. Wednesday, October 1st, I rode 
over to brother Moore's, on Scioto Brush Creek, 
where I found a considerable society already or- 
ganized by brother Moore. In this place I had 



316 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



some success, and the society so increased that no 
private house or cabin would hold the congrega- 
tion. On the 6th of August, 1800, we proposed 
to build a meeting-house, but we met with opposi- 
tion from some who wanted a free house ; but as 
no one seemed to care for their souls but the 
Methodists, I could see no good sense in building a 
house for other denominations, before they came and 
needed one. We, however, succeeded in build- 
ing a small log-house — but large enough for the 
neighborhood as it then was. This was the first 
Methodist meeting-house on the circuit, perhaps 
the first in the North-western Territory. I did 
not stop to preach here on my first round, but left 
an appointment for that day three weeks, and 
pushed on to the house of Isaac Warmsley, on 
Scioto Brush Creek, where T lodged that night. 
Being invited to stay, and rest myself and horse, 
the next day, I concluded to do so ; but, after 
dinner, I became so restless and unhappy in mind 
that I told my friend I could not stay, for some- 
thing urged me to go — go ; and I must go. It 
was supposed to be sixteen miles to the mouth of 
the creek, and there was no house for twelve 
miles, and no road ; not even a beaten path or 
blazed trees to direct my course. The creek 
was my guide. I had, however, a path sometimes, 
(for some had traveled the same route before,) 
but often none at all. About four miles from the 
mouth of the creek I came to a cabin, and inquired 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



317 



about the settlement at the mouth of the creek, 
where I had a mind to go, and call a meeting; 
but understanding that few people lived there, I 
took a cross-path, and crossed Scioto four miles 
higher up, and got into the road leading from the 
mouth of the river (this was then what was called 
congress land) to Pee-Pee and Chilicothe. Night 
was now coming on, and I knew I could not reach 
Pee-Pee, as I would have to cross the river in the 
night, and knew not the ford. I began to look for 
some cabin to shelter in. I took notice of several, 
but my impressions urged me on. About eight 
miles short of Pee-Pee, just as the sun was setting, 
I came to a very small cabin, and met with an 
old man and his wife. I asked if they could give 
shelter for the night. The old man said he could 
not well do it, for one of his family was sick, and 
he had no way to keep my horse ; but if I would 
go to his son's (in sight) there, I could get lodging. 
I went, but was, for the first time in my life, 
positively denied a night's lodging in a log- 
cabin. 

I returned, and begged the old man to take me 
in. He consented. " But," said he, " you must pay 
me for your horse ; and you will have an uncom- 
fortable time of it, for my daughter is sick of a 
fever, and she is out of her head all night." It 
struck me that this, perhaps, was the very place 
for me. I tied my horse to a tree, fed him, and 
went in. 



318 



KECOLLECTIONS OF 



This was decidedly the smallest cabin I ever 
lodged in. I was weary and hungry. I found a 
very sick woman indeed, laboring under high fe- 
ver, and quite flighty, and talking incessantly. I 
soon made myself known to them. And shortly 
after this I heard the mother say to her daughter, 
" Polly, be still ; there is a preacher in the house." 
She raised her head, looked earnestly at me, laid 
down her head, turned over in the bed, and was 
quiet, and soon went to sleep. Her fever sub- 
sided, and she slept till after we had eaten our 
supper. When she waked up, her mother soon 
said to me, " My daughter wants you to pray for 
her." I went to the bed, and spoke to her, and 
found her under great concern about her soul. I 
encouraged her to look to the Lord for help, and 
went to prayer. The spirit of supplication and 
intercession was given for the sick, and we had 
near access to the throne of the heavenly grace. 
When we rose from our knees, I spoke to her 
again, and she professed to be much better in 
body and soul. She said, " I have been lying here 
nine weeks, and there has been no one to say a 
word to me about my soul, or pray for me. O, 
how often I have wished the Lord would only 
send some one that could pray for me, and say 
something to me about my soul! I believe the 
Lord hath sent you here." Indeed, I believed so 
too. I sung, and we rejoiced together, and the 
old people wept aloud. I was happy ; so was poor 



AN ITINEKANT. 



819 



Polly. When bedtime came, the old people 
wanted to give up their bed to me, such as it was ; 
but this I could not allow. They laid some bear- 
skins on the floor for me to lie on ; and if Solo- 
mon, in all his glory, was ever happier on a bed 
of down than I was on the bear-skins, he must 
have been happy indeed! But the most of our 
sweets are mixed with some bitters. A tribe of 
busy, hungry insects, who had possession of the 
bear-skins long before I had, came out upon me, 
and contended earnestly for their rights, and an- 
noyed me very much ; but they could not disturb 
my peace of mind. The next morning I was up 
early, and found Polly free from fever, and in a 
comfortable state of mind. She pitied me, because 
I had had such a restless night ; for I had kept 
up a pretty constant, although fruitless, combat 
with my enemies. I had prayers with them again, 
and departed before it was fiairly light. When I 
came round again, I called to see what had become 
of my convert. Poor Polly had gone to her rest. 
The old people said she had died in great peace. I 
made an appointment to preach her funeral sermon 
when I got round again ; and, when the time ar- 
rived, I had most of the squatters, far and near, 
to hear me. I rode through a heavy rain, and 
called at the house of Snowden Sargent, on Pee- 
Pee, a kind-hearted old Methodist from Maryland. 
I was wet, hungry, and brought plenty of com- 
pany with me from the bear-skins. I introduced 



320 RECOLLECTIONS OP 

myself, and met with a cordial reception by a kind 
family. Here I rested on Saturday, and refitted. 
While at this place I met with several friends I 
had been acquainted with in other places ; among 
them, William Talbott, who had preached at my 
father's when he first began to itinerate. His 
zeal and excessive labors soon broke him down. 
He married, and then moved to that place with 
his father-in-law, and tried to provide for a rising 
family. He preached, however, occasionally. I 
afterward heard him preach at our quarterly meet- 
ing at Pee-Pee, with divine unction. Sunday, 
the 6th, I preached at brother Sargent's. All 
were very attentive, and some felt the word. I 
called together those who had been in society in 
various places, and organized a class, and the Lord 
was truly among us : one shouted aloud ; and 
most of the professors were much quickened. In 
those days I was always at home in class meeting ; 
and if I did not succeed in pubhc, I was sure to 
feel well in the class meeting. I preached again 
at night. I had some liberty, and the people were 
all attention. I lodged that night with brother 
Talbott. I felt much for him. O how ought 
those to be esteemed who have sacrificed their 
health, and almost their lives, in the cause of 
Grod ! And yet some are neglected, and end their 
days in obscurity and poverty. 

Henry Smith. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



321 



LETTER lY. 

Deak Sir, — I must say something more 
about the Pee-Pee settlement. In this place 
Methodism had a pretty good introduction. The 
most respectable people in the neighborhood had 
been Methodists in other places ; and, like our 
Pilgrim fathers, they brought their religion with 
them, and were not ashamed of Methodism in the 
wilderness ; but we had some drawbacks. Our 
brethren here had prayed for ministerial help. 
Some had written, and others had gone in person 
to Kentucky, and begged that some of the preach- 
ers w^ould come over and help them. And it was 
no wonder that they were glad when one came. In 
addition to this, as regards myself, I was acquaint- 
ed with many of them. Our local preachers were 
scattered over the country, and did what they 
could ; for they, indeed, were the pioneers, as they 
always have been ; but they were often discou- 
raged, and their hands hung down. One of these 
preachers, in passing through the Pee-Pee settle- 
ment on business, came there late in the afternoon. 
Some soon found out that he was a preacher. One 
said, " I wonder if he will preach !" " O no," said 
another ; " he is too tired." One of the young 
Sargents said, " Try him ; I '11 be bound he '11 
preach — for a Methodist preacher can run up hill 
a quarter of a mile, and give him time to draw 

21 



322 



RECOLLECTIONS OP 



five breaths, he is ready to preach." This was 
saying too much, however, for Methodist preach- 
ers, even in gone-by days. The first quarterly 
meeting ever held on Pee-Pee began on Decem- 
ber 27, 1800, in a cabin school-house, surrounded 
by woods. The weather was remarkably plea- 
sant for the season. I had no one to help me but 
brother Talbott; but we had a gracious season 
of refreshing on Saturday morning, and again at 
night. On vSunday morning at the sacrament, and 
in the love-feast, we had an overwhelming shower 
of divine grace. Some professed to enjoy more 
of the love of Christ than they had enjoyed for 
years. I preached at eleven o'clock, and brother 
Talbott followed with a feeling discourse. We 
were favored with much of the presence of our 
divine Master in our log-cabin, and we sat together 
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Some wept, 
and others shouted aloud for joy. As we were on 
our way to the meeting, we came down the river 
with company. We met a deer, near a row of 
houses on the bank of the river, which the wolves 
had driven out of the woods. It stood about 
twenty yards from us, trembling and panting, 
with its tongue hanging out. Sunday as it was, 
some were for getting a gun to shoot it, (but these 
were not Methodists.) I remonstrated against it, 
as it was Sunday, and against the law of God and 
the land. The poor deer had just escaped the 
voracious jaws of the wolves, and sought protection 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



323 



near the habitation of man. I remarked, that 
Christians, coming from the worship of their God 
on his holy day, ought surely to be more merciful 
than the wolves. It ran down the bank and 
crossed the river. But, after all, the poor deer 
escaped not. Some wicked boys crossed the river 
below, and ahead of it, and drove it back into the 
river, and then pursued it in a canoe, caught it, 
and cut its throat. 

Monday, 7th of October, I rode to Elijah Chine- 
worth's, With this family I had been acquainted. 
The Lord met us at the family altar, and we were 
happy. In those days it was common for the 
family to take their seats after rising from prayer, 
when the preacher was with them, expecting him 
to sing, or to say something to them. Sometimes, 
on such occasions, we spoke to every individual, 
and we often got a blessing in these sacred exer- 
cises. 

Tuesday, the 8th, I rode still up the river to 
the High Banks Prairie. The people here were 
living on congress land. I stopped with my friend, 
Thomas Lansdale. Here I found two families 
living in a small house, and the greater part of 
both families sick. Wednesday morning one of 
brother L.'s children died, a little boy about three 
years old. I staid with them, and preached the 
funeral sermon on Thursday, the 10th, at ten 
o'clock, from 1 Sam. xii, 23. While I was preach- 
ing, several began to shake with the ague, while 



324 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



others were burning witli fever. Here was an 
affecting sight indeed : sick children were crying, 
whose parents were not able to attend to them, 
while the lifeless body of one dear child was before 
us. Surely these people needed a comforter. 
Here I afterward formed a society, and preached 
to them regularly, but had little success. The 
people had inclosed as much as five hundred or a 
thousand acres of prairie land with one fence, and 
lived in cabins on the banks of the river, and on 
high ground, around this large field. And as 
every one did not regard the interest of his neigh- 
bor, much misunderstanding and litigation took 
place among them. These evils crept into the 
society, and were a source of great grief to me. 
Two of the principal members, who had lived to- 
gether in love and Christian friendship elsewhere, 
and had also met in band meeting many years, 
had now so far lost their former love and con- 
fidence, as to criminate each other. I spoke 
plainly, but affectionately, to one, until he wept, 
and expressed a wish to be reconciled to his bro- 
ther. I soon ran to the other, and spoke to him 
in the same way, and told him that brother L. 
wished to be reconciled ; he also yielded, and said, 
"If brother L. wishes to be reconciled, it will 
take place." We appointed the time for an inter- 
view. When we met we prayed together, and 
spread their case before the Lord ; and the melting 
Spirit of God came upon us, and we all wept. 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



325 



I brought before tliem their former days and 
former feelings, and then told them to sit down 
and talk over their grievances, and settle their 
differences, and forgive one another as Christians 
ought to do. Brother L. began, in tears, to con- 
fess wherein he had been wrong ; and brother H. 
came out in the same spirit : they both wept bit- 
terly, confessed their faults one to the other, and 
gave each other the right hand of fellowship, and 
embraced as brethren. If ever the text was ful- 
filled, "When two or three are gathered together 
in my name," &c., it was in this case. The snare 
was broken, and two worthy men escaped. This 
is only one among many cases of the kind that 
occurred in my newly formed societies. Thurs- 
day, the 10th, in the afternoon, I rode to Robert 
Boggs's, on Deer Creek. I became acquainted 
with brother B., in Jefferson county, Virginia, 
when he was under deep conviction, and was fre- 
quently at his house after his happy conversion. 
I was truly glad to find him and his wife still hold- 
ing on their way to the kingdom. Here I rested, 
and read the Holy Scriptures, and Fletcher on 
Christian Perfection. I then said and Avrote in 
my book, " I more than ever see the doctrine is 
Scriptural, and firmly believe the blessing to be 
attainable ; but how far I am from what I ouo^ht 
to be ! Lord, help me to shake off my sloth, and 
go on to perfection in earnest!" With these 
friends I felt myself quite at home. Notice was 



320 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



given that I would preach the following Sunday 
at Anthony Davenport's. This brother I also 
knew, and many of his friends. Indeed, his father 
and mother were among the first Methodists in 
our section of country. I saw them sit under the 
ministry of William Jessop, the first Methodist 
preacher I ever heard. I was then a boy, and 
rode behind my uncle to the meeting. In the fall 
of 1789 I had the privilege of attaching myself to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the house of 
his brother, John Davenport, Esq., and he after- 
ward became my leader, and I had close union 
with him to the day of his death. 

Sunday, the 13th, I preached on Acts xvi, 9, 
and the good Spirit of the Lord attended the 
word, and many wept, some for joy, and others 
for sorrow, while all were deeply attentive. Here 
Doctor Tiffen had organized a society, and had 
his regular appointments. I met the class, and 
the Lord was present, in love and power, to re- 
fresh his dear children. One poor sinner wept 
aloud, and a poor backslider confessed his back- 
slidings, and bemoaned his base ingratitude. Glory 
be to God, it was a day of his power, and we were 
all encouraged to trust in the Lord, and go for- 
ward in the line of duty. 

Monday, the 14th, I rode down the river to 
Chilicothe, and put up with Dr. Tiffen, with whom 
I had been long acquainted. The doctor had often 
preached in our neighborhood, and sometimes at 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



327 



my father's. He and his excellent wife received 
me as a messenger of Christ, and treated me with 
great kindness. Sister T. was one of the most 
conscientious and heavenly minded women I ever 
saw. She was a mother in our Israel indeed. 
About that time a report was put in circulation 
that the doctor had given up his religion ; he 
laughed at it, and said, " It would not do for me 
to backslide, for my wife would let me have no 
peace." The doctor, however, refused to take any 
part in religious exercises in Chilicothe out of his 
own family : he had his reasons for it. 

Tuesday evening, October 15, 1799, I preached 
my first sermon in Chilicothe (I think in a school- 
house) to quite a respectable congregation. It 
was thought, by some, that half the congregation 
had never heard a Methodist preacher before ; but 
I never saw a people more orderly and attentive, 
except one poor drunkard, who came in drunk, 
and made a little disturbance ; but the people were 
so anxious to hear, that they paid very little at- 
tention to him. I have reason to believe the Lord 
was with me, and assisted me in this first effort. 
From that time I preached in the town once in 
three weeks, when I could get a place to preach 
in ; and, generally, in a school-house. There was 
a log-house, called the Presbyterian Meeting- 
house, also made use of as a court-house, but I 
had no access to it. The morals of the people 
were such as is common in newly settled countries, 



328 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



and religion was despised, particularly Methodism. 
We had, however, a few faithful souls, who held 
fast their integrity, and adorned their profession. 
Sunday, July 7, 1800, I preached to a large and 
serious congregation at Davenport's, on Deer 
Creek, at eleven o'clock, and rode twelve miles to 
Chilicothe, and preached again under the trees, it 
being a pleasant evening. There and then I or- 
ganized the first Methodist society in Chilicothe. 
All those who had been members in other places, 
and brought their certificates with them, did not 
come forward. I visited several families the next 
day, and got a few more to join, so that we had 
eighteen to begin with. I wish I could give their 
names. Doctor Tififen retained his membership 
at Davenport's. 

The following March we wished to hold our 
quarterly meeting in Chilicothe, but we had no 
house to hold it in. One of the brethren spoke to 
a Presbyterian elder for the use of their house. 
He spoke to his pastor, who sent us word that he 
had no objection. So rve published the meeting, 
to begin on the 28th of March, 1801. I rode 
all the way to Kentucky to prevail on the Rev. 
William Burke to attend our quarterly meeting. 
On the 2oth we crossed the Ohio River, and I 
first introduced him into the North-western Ter- 
ritory. On Saturday, the 25th, brother Burke 
preached his first sermon in Chilicothe, from He- 
brews xi^ 1. On Sunday morning, the 29th, we 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



329 



had a most precious sacrament ; the Lord greatly 
blessed his poor despised disciples. We had a 
large and interesting congregation, to whom the 
servant of the Lord preached with power from on 
high, and the people were not only attentive, but 
considerably moved under the word. Never did 
our brother pay a more seasonable and acceptable 
visit to any people. Perhaps there is no one 
living that knows more about the difficulties that 
Methodism had to contend with at its first intro- 
duction into Chilicothe, than I do. True, there 
was not much done during my stay there. But 
one thing I know, we did not give up the ship, 
though we had to contend hard with adverse 
storms. 

Before I go further, I will turn back to Deer 
Creek, and say all I have to say about that place. 
There we had some success and increase. The 
first quarterly meeting was held in a log meeting- 
house, perhaps a free house ; it began on the 
26th of July, 1800. It w^as a very warm day, 
and I had to ride eighteen miles that morning, 
having had two appointments the previous day ; 
the last twenty-five miles distant. I started early, 
and was out in a very heavy rain, and got w^et, 
and did not reach the place of meeting until after 
twelve o'clock. There were three preachers in 
attendance, Samuel Hitt, Doctor Tiffen, and Ever- 
ard Harr. Service had begun when I got there. 
I was weary, wet, and hoarse ; but nothing would 



330 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



do but I must preach a second sermon : for in 
those days we always had two sermons on quarterly- 
meeting occasions in succession, and sometimes 
an exhortation besides, particularly on Sunday, if 
we had preachers enough ; for our quarterly meet- 
ings were high times, and people came to them 
from far and near. On Sunday morning we had 
sacrament, about half-past nine o'clock, in public ; 
we had about fifty communicants, and a great 
blessing attended that holy ordinance. At eleven 
o'clock brother Hitt preached out of doors, for the 
house would not hold half the people that attended, 
and Doctor Tiffen followed by a second sermon ; 
and divine influence attended the word. This was 
said to be the largest religious assembly ever seen 
on the banks of the Scioto Kiver. 

Yours, &c. Henry Smith. 



LETTER V. 

Dear Sir, — I must now return to my regular 
round in forming my new circuit. On Wednes- 
day morning, October the 16th, I left Chilicothe, 
and took up Paint Creek, and went to the house 
of William Kerns, a local preacher, in Haller's 
Bottom. Thursday, the 17th, I preached to a few 
people there, and again at night, when we had a 
larger congregation ; where I afterward formed a 
small society. My three weeks' circuit was now 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



331 



laid out. I afterward went to Foster's, on Eagle 
Creek, a distance of seventy-five or eighty miles. 
At first I preached at Foster's and Rankin's ; af- 
terward the preaching was removed to John Bry- 
an's, which became a regular Sunday appointment. 

I will now give a plan of my circuit : — Sunday, 
at Bryan's. Tuesday, at Burkitt's, on Ohio Brush 
Creek. Wednesday, at Moore's. Thursday, at 
William Jackson's, a local preacher, near the mouth 
of Scioto. On Friday I had a long ride to Sar- 
gent's : I rested there on Saturday, and preached 
on Sunday. Monday, at Chineworth's. Tuesday, 
at Foster's. Wednesday, at Lansdale's, on the 
High Banks. Thursday, at Crouch's, on Kine- 
canick. Friday, at HoUinshead's, near the Salt 
Works. Saturday, at Haines's, in the Pickaway 
Plains. Sunday, at Davenport's, Deer Creek. 
On Tuesday I rode to Chilicothe, and preached 
there. On Wednesday, at Haller's. Thursday 
and Friday I had to ride toward my next appoint- 
ment ; and preached at Mr. Pogers's, opposite to 
Cabin Creek, on the Ohio, on Saturday. I after- 
ward took in St. Clairsville and Newmarket ; and 
preached occasionally at many other places ; so 
that my time was pretty well filled up. I found 
on this circuit the following local preachers ; — 
Thomas Odle, at St. Clairsville ; George Pogers, at 
the mouth of Cabin Creek ; Joseph Moore, on 
Scioto Brush Creek; William Jackson, at the 
mouth of the Scioto ; William Talbott, at the Pee- 



332 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



Pee settlement ; Lewis Foster and Jesse Mount, 
at Foster's ; Doctor Edward TifFen and Everard 
Harr, at Chilicothe ; William Kerns, in Haller's 
Bottom. 

On Friday, ISth of October, 1799, 1 left brother 
Kerns's cabin, and went onward early in the 
morning, after eating a light breakfast, for Little 
Miami. I had to go through Newmarket : I read- 
ily found the path leading to the place. No one 
then lived from the Falls of Paint to Newmarket, 
a distance of full thirty miles. I saw plenty of 
deer, and one bear. I pursued my course faith- 
fully till after the middle of the day, when I met 
a family, who told me it was about eight miles to 
Newmarket, as I understood them ; but they might 
have said eighteen. I slacked pace till I met two 
men, and they told me it was about fifteen miles. 
I then again pushed ahead in earnest. But night 
overtook me, and having nothing but a path, 
which was full of leaves, and not being able to see 
the blazes, or marks on the trees, I lost my path, 
and got into the woods. I now began to think 
that I would have to take up my lodging in the 
wilderness for the night. I was hungry and wea- 
ry, and so was my poor horse Caesar, and we had 
nothing to eat. I had no means of making a fire, 
and snakes and wolves abounded in that country 
at that time. I had slept in the wilderness before, 
but had always had company, and some means of 
making a fire, and, also, something to eat. My 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



333 



faithful horse appeared to be in distress, as well 
as his master. I, however, looked to God, and 
sought for the path, and happily found it : and, by 
the guidance of Providence, I kept it. My horse 
would sometimes stop and seem to feel for the 
path, whenever he trod out of it. I had not gone 
far in this way, when I saw a light : I thanked God 
and took courage ; and soon came to the cabin of 
a Mr. Ross. I called, and the old gentleman 
came out ; I inquired how far it was to New- 
market; and he told me that this was the place. 
" Can you," said I, " direct me to a public house 
where I can get lodging ?" " There is but an- 
other cabin in the place," said he ; " but you are 
welcome to stay here." I thanked him, and dis- 
mounted, and went in. I soon told them who I 
was, and also my business in that country, and 
where I was going ; and they treated me with 
all the kindness and hospitality of a backwoods 
family. I had prayers with them, and talked to 
them about religion, and took particular notice of 
a little girl, their daughter. In the fall of 1801 
my sister Ursula moved to that place. She and 
Mrs. Ross became intimate. Mrs. Ross and her 
dauo;hter both embraced reliorion. In the fall of 
1822, when I last visited Ohio, after passing 
through Hillsborough, I called at a house to feed 
my horse, about eight miles from Newmarket. 
While the good man was attending to my horse, I 
had some conversation with the good woman, and 



334 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



asked her what church they belonged to ; she 
said she was a Methodist. " So am I," said I, 
" and twenty years ago I used to preach through 
this country/' She hastily asked my name, and 
when I told her, she rose, and took me by the 
hand with as much joy as if I had been her fa- 
ther. Who should it be but Mr. Ross's daughter — 
the little girl I took some notice of when her fa- 
ther took me in, a stranger. When her husband 
came in, she introduced me to him as an old 
friend. I inquired after the old people, and we 
talked about former days. 

On Saturday, the 19th, I started from New- 
market early in the morning, and, for the first 
time, crossed the swamp or low grounds from New- 
market to Williamsburg, but at this season it was 
rather dry. From Williamsburg I pressed on to 
the house of my old friend and schoolmate, E. 
Dinnett, on the east fork of the Little Miami. On 
Sunday, the 20th, I rode down the east fork to 
brother M'Cormick's, and preached there, and we 
had a gracious season. Here I met brother Hunt, 
my fellow-laborer and sufferer in the cause of 
Christ. We strengthened each other's hands in 
the Lord, and agreed that he should go up to Sci- 
oto, and I take a round or two on the Miami cir- 
cuit. This was also a three weeks' circuit, and 
was pretty much as it was left by brother Kobler. 
One Sunday appointment was at Gatch's. Thence 
we went to Robinson's ; to Andrew Reed's, on 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



335 



Mad River ; and then, about thirty miles up the 
river to William Ross's. Thence to Holt's sta- 
tion, a Sunday appointment. Thence to Captain 
Ross's, near Fort Hamilton. Thence to Brant's : 
then to Coldrain, and to Garrison's, on the Great 
Miami. Thence to Dusky's ; then to Nelson's, 
to Williamsburg, and to Deerfield. Every day was 
filled up either by preaching or riding : some- 
times we had a long ride, and had to preach also. 
Many of the people were much prejudiced against 
the Methodists in this region of country. The 
Baptists were among the first denominations of 
Christians that settled there ; and some of them 
were not only Calvinistic in doctrine, but also 
Antinomians in practice. The doctrines of uni- 
versal atonement by Christ ; of salvation from all 
sin through faith in him ; and of the possibility 
of falling from grace, were thought to be dreadful 
heresies. Cincinnati was then a wicked hole of a 
place, and needed the gospel very much ; but we 
had no opening there — no place could be got to 
set the sole of our foot upon. 

On December 5th I preached at Williamsburg 
to about twenty or thirty people, and again at 
night. A man here opened his house for preach- 
ing, and entertained the preachers, who had left 
his wife, and come to this country with another 
woman, and they passed for man and wife. I 
believe no one there knew any better, until he 
told it himself under the following circumstances : 



836 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



— I preached at his house, as above stated, and to 
him, at least, it was close and home preaching, 
for his conscience was waked up, and he was fully 
persuaded that I knew all about him. After din- 
ner, he said he wished to have a conversation with 
me. We walked toward the house, where I 
preached at night. He candidly told me all about 
his situation, and asked advice, and wished to 
know what he must do. I told him I knew 
nothing about his case. Said he, I thought you 
did by your preaching." He wished to know if 
it would not do if he were to marry this woman. 
Said I, " You must put away this woman ; and 
go, and bring your wife, and live with her : with- 
out this there is no hope for you." The poor sin- 
ner was in great perplexity, and as gentle as a 
wolf caught in a trap. I did not go back that 
night. I went down next morning to get my 
horse and saddlebags. Pioneers, in their zeal to 
introduce Methodism into some places, have some- 
times innocently laid the foundation of difficulties 
for many years. Much depends upon the mate- 
rials with which we begin a church. This man, 
however, had not been taken into the society. 

On Friday, the 6th, I rode down to brother 
Gatch's, where the quarterly meeting was ex- 
pected. On the way I met brother Hunt, who 
gave an account of the state of things on Scioto, 
my new circuit. T was sorry to find him in very 
poor health. On Saturday, the 7th, our quarterly 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



337 



meeting began. Here we expected the presiding 
elder from Kentucky, but he did not come ; so 
brother Edge, an old local preacher from Virginia, 
opened the meeting by a warm and feeling ser- 
mon, and many felt the word to be the power of 
God unto salvation. We held a quarterly con- 
ference, and regulated the affairs of the circuit as 
well as we could. On Sunday morning we had a 
love-feast. Many spoke with life and power, and 
we had a great shout. Three spoke feelingly of 
the sanctifying love of God, and we had no rea- 
son to doubt this testimony. Thank the Lord for 
witnesses of perfect love in the wilderness ! In 
the conclusion of the love-feast, I invited those who 
were in distress of soul to come forward, and be 
prayed for. Several came, but none were con- 
verted. At eleven o'clock brother Smith, brother 
Gatch's brother-in-law, preached, and I followed 
him, and brother Edge concluded with an exhort- 
ation. Our public exercises were not attended 
with any remarkable or visible effects, but upon 
the whole it. was a season of refreshing from the 
presence of the Lord. 

In 1800 no preacher was sent to Miami cir- 
cuit. I was repeatedly written to, and invited to 
come down and help them. I appointed a quar- 
terly meeting, to begin on the 30th of August, 
1800; and went down and spent a few weeks 
among them. Gatch's neighborhood was our head- 
quarters, where we had the strongest society. We 
22 



338 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



got local preachers and official members together^ 
and held a quarterly meeting conference. They 
were much grieved that they were left without an 
itinerant preacher. I encouraged them to preach 
and meet the classes ; to receive probationers, and 
to attend to the Discipline as well as they could ; 
for I knew they were left without a preacher, 
because there was none to send. We had a bless- 
ed love-feast on Sunday morning — some wept, and 
others shouted for joy. We had to preach out of 
doors. At this meeting we had to preach the 
funeral sermon of our brother Smith, who was 
with us at our last meeting. I spoke, and brother 
Gatch followed me, and gave the character of the 
man. It was a solemn and interesting meeting. 
This good brother was with us at our last meet- 
ing, in good health, and bid fair for long life, and 
ministered to us the bread of life ; but now we 
were called upon to minister consolation to his 
surviving partner disconsolate children, and nu- 
merous friends. 

On the 16th of June, 1802, I accompanied our 
beloved M'Kendree (then our presiding elder in 
Kentucky) to Newmarket, where he preached to 
a large congregation, for the place. He preached 
out of doors. On the 18th we rode to brother 
Dimmet's, on the Little Miami. On the 19th 
our quarterly meeting began. It was again held 
at Gatch's. Our worthy M'Kendree preached 
one of his soul-stirring and heart-searching ser- 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



339 



mons, to a large congregation for that country. 
It was a time of power and love — a soul-reviving 
season: some shouted aloud for joy. To this 
meeting many came from far ; some on foot, 
others on horseback: but on Sunday, the 20th, 
the congregation was gathered under the trees, 
where a stand and a few seats had been prepared. 
Those who had no seats stood or sat on the 
ground. Our M'Kendree preached one of his in- 
genious and overwhelming sermons, from Jer. viii, 
22. He took hold of the doctrine of unconditional 
election and reprobation, and held it up in its true 
character. His arguments were unanswerable; 
and such was the divine influence attending the 
word that he carried the whole congregation with 
him. The very place appeared to be shaken by 
the power of God. The people fell in every 
direction. I will here give the preacher's own 
account of this meeting. In a letter to Bishop 
Asbury, he says : " The people came from far to 
the Miami quarterly meeting. I heard of a wo- 
man that walked thirty miles to it, so that our 
congregation was large for that country. On the 
first day we were favored in a singular manner 
with the presence of the Lord, and I think I may 
safely say it increased throughout the meeting. 
Two women of genteel appearance fell not far 
from the stand, but were presently taken off by 
some men, (their brothers, I was informed.) The 
Spirit of God, like a sword, pierced one of the 



340 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



men about ten steps from the stand, and he sud- 
denly fell to the earth, together with his weeping 
charge, and cried aloud for mercy ; and the other 
was graciously visited in like manner. Thus 
there were four instead of two deeply engaged. 
This attracted the attention of many, who were 
convicted through their means, and I am informed 
they never rested until they found peace, by 
which means religion was carried into other 
parts, and the work of God continued to spread. 
The last thing respecting this meeting which I 
shall mention is a case of natural simplicity 
which deeply affected my mind : An old woman, 
sitting just behind me, while brother Smith was 
preaching, began to speak in a low and mournful 
manner, and expressed herself to the following pur- 
port : — ' Lord, I have heard about these people, 
and walked a long way to hear them. Yesterday, 
while the man was preaching, I felt very bad,' and 
thought I should fall down ; so I was about to get 
into the woods and hide myself, for I did not 
know that it was the Lord ; but I could not walk. 
I fell down among the people, and all my shame 
went away ; and now I am happy. Bless the 
Lord, he has converted my soul! 0 how light 
my heart is now ; glory, glory to King Jesus ! 
But, O Lord, my husband is wicked, my children 
are wicked, and there is no religion in our neighbor- 
hood, and no one to tell them how to get converted. 
Lord, send some of these preachers that have the 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



341 



Spirit of God in their hearts into our neighborhood, 
to my house, to tell the people the way to heaven T 
This prayer so affected me, that at that time I felt 
willing to preach the gospel to the poor in every 
disconsolate corner." So wrote the preacher. 

I saw a number crowded together, and went to 
see what was the matter. I found the two young 
ladies prostrate on the ground, and their brothers 
sitting by them in deep distress, and numbers 
round them — all in tears. I pointed them to 
Christ, and went to prayer with them. Present- 
ly two women pressed through the crowd, and 
spoke to one of the young men to take their sisters 
out of the crowd. One of the young men took 
hold of his sister a second time to remove her; 
but a zealous sister took hold of Imn, and exhort- 
ed him, with tears, not to remove her. He sat 
down and w^ept bitterly. A small distance from 
there I found two little girls in deep distress. I 
began to instruct them, and exhorted them to 
look to Christ for a blessing. A good woman 
spoke out, " They do not understand you." I 
paid no attention to her, but went on talking to 
the girls. Presently she spoke again, and said, 
" Sir, I wish to tell you how these children were 
brought up : they never heard anything about 
religion ; their parents are wicked people, and 
brought up their children in ignorance and wick- 
edness." Then one of the girls called for her 
brother, and reached out her hand to him, and 



342 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



clasped him in her arms, and cried, 0,, brother, 
pray for me I 0, brother, do pray for me She 
saw another of her brothers at a distance, and 
called to him, but he would not come near her. 
The mother was there, but would not approach 
them for fear of being exposed. These girls 
were severely treated when they went home. 
'When I went near the stand I found many in 
deep distress. Glory be to God I I have reason 
to believe this was the beginning of better days 
on the 3Iiami circuit. Saturday. August the 21st, 
1802, I attended another quarterly meeting, at 
Thomas Odle's, near St. Clairsville, on Eagle 
Creek, Ohio. The Lord was present in the ad- 
ministration of his vrord, particularly at night, 
when many were cut to the heart, and brought to 
cry aloud for mercy. A man and his wife, who 
had been notorious persecutors, were both arrest- 
ed by the Spirit of God, and confessed their for- 
mer prejudice before all the congregation. One 
young woman was under strong conviction, and 
crying mightily for mercy. AYhen some of her 
friends brought her some water, she said, I don't 
want that — it is the water of life I want I" Two 
brothers were there who had seriously quarreled ; 
but the Lord overtook them that night in mercy, 
and the quarrel was made up. One cried ont, 
" O, Daniel, what have I done I*' and the other, 
" 0, Peter, what have we been doing and there 
was an end of their angry feehngs ; and they 



4 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



343 



embraced each other. O, what a time we had ! 
Glory be to God, the valleys were exalted, and 
the mountains made low! August 28th, I attend- 
ed another quarterly meeting, at James Sargent's, 
on the Miami circuit. Here I once more met 
with and heard my old friend and brother, Elijah 
Sparks, under whose ministry I had been so often 
comforted and encouraged, when he rode Win- 
chester circuit. We had a good and refreshing 
time ; some souls were converted, and many 
quickened. Praise the Lord, 0 my soul ! After 
this wide ramble, it is time for me to return to 
Scioto. Wednesday, December 11th, 1799, I left 
the house of my old friend M'Cormick, and all the 
dear friends in Gatch's neighborhood, and started 
for my circuit. I rode within fifteen miles of my 
circuit, and at night put up with a poor family, 
who could just afford house-room and a blanket 
to lie on. I had prayers with them, and talked to 
them about religion. The woman hoped she was 
converted ; and also hoped she could not fall, or 
lose that hope. I started next morning, before 
day, and reached my appointment at half-past 
eleven o'clock. I was much fatigued and drowsy^ 
but preached with some liberty to the few who 
were present. I was now again in my regular 
work— and pressed on through thick and thin ; I 
had long rides over bad roads, and had to wade 
through deep waters. 

I had many invitations to preach in destitute 



344 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



places, I was sometimes much affected when 
people would come manj miles, and beg me, with 
tears in their eyes, to come and preach to them, 
and would leave me with a sorrowful countenance 
and a heavy heart, when they found it was out of 
my power to comply with their wishes. 

The Lord favored me with some success ; for 
souls were given me, and many backsliders were 
reclaimed, and the Lord's people encouraged and 
built up. Before I left the circuit, for the General 
Conference, in Baltimore, May 6th, 1800, I held 
another quarterly meeting at William Burkitt's. 
On Saturday, the 29th of March, brother Jackson 
preached from, Hitherto the Lord hath helped 
us." The text and sermon suited the occasion, 
and the Lord was in his word, and we found it 
good to be there. On Sunday morning we had 
a happy love-feast. Brother Jackson preached 
again at eleven o'clock, and brother Eogers ex- 
horted. I concluded the service with another ser- 
mon ; and the good Lord opened my mind, and 
enlarged my heart, and the word had free course. 
I have seldom seen people more affected under 
the word preached : showers of tears were shed 
by saints and sinners. Many left me in tears, 
expecting to see me no more in time. I made a 
collection the last round, which amounted to forty 
dollars. On Tuesday I went to Chilicothe. On 
Wednesday, April 2d, I took my scraps of pro- 
vision, and sack of corn for my horse, and made 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



345 



off to the wilderness quite alone. The first night 
I had a cabin to lodge in, and the floor, too, to lie 
on ; but here I was much annoyed by a cub-bear, 
which they had just caught, and brought into the 
house. To make matters still worse, a fellow rode 
to the house late in the night, imitating, as he ap- 
proached, the Indian yell ; he stopped there, and 
took his bed by the side of me. The second day I 
fell in with two men — one was a very clever young 
man, the other an old, surly fellow. We traveled 
faithfully all day. In the fore part of the day 
we passed over the site where Lancaster now 
stands. There was then, perhaps, a cabin or two 
there. At night we halted near a vacant cabin. 
We passed several of these cabins. I suppose 
they were built by the men who cut the road 
through the wilderness. We kindled a fire, fed 
our horses, and ate our dinner and supper toge- 
ther ; but the gnats were so troublesome, that 
neither man nor beast could have any rest, till we 
made smoke fires around ourselves and horses, 
and then we slept securely in the woods. The 
third day we had rain, but pushed ahead ; and 
came at night to a new cabin, half covered, and the 
floor about half laid, with puncheons. Here we 
found a young man who had a keg of whisky and a 
few bushels of oats. We tarried with him, and I 
got some of the oats at twenty-five cents per gal- 
lon. I did not price his whisky, as I bought 
none. Here we met four or five men, and some 



346 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



of them were rude enough. I soon had occasion 
to reprove one for profane language. I did it in 
such a way as not to give offense ; and yet it had 
the desired effect, for all became quiet. I soon 
took the floor, before a good fire. After they 
thought I was asleep, they had some more chat, 
and also drank a little more whisky; but soon 
all of them laid down by my side. To lie before 
such a fire as was there, when wet and weary, 
was quite agreeable. The fourth day we had 
rain, but night brought us to another cabin, where 
we found three hunters ; and they also had whis- 
ky, and one of them was lying on the floor dead 
drunk. We stopped with them, and, after eating 
our dinner and supper, we all took the dirt-floor 
for our bed, by the side of the drunken hunter ; 
but he snored so loud that I could not sleep. I 
begged the man who was lying next to him to turn 
him on his side ; and in doing so he waked him, 
and he began to swear horribly. In quite a low 
tone of voice, I said to the young man who was 
near me, " Poor wretch, how he swears !" The 
young man said, " He is saying his prayers." 
Hearing us speak, he bawled out, " What is that 
you say ?" The young man answered, " I said I 
would say my prayers." " You are not the man 
that spoke," replied the fellow ; " if you do not 
take care, I'll make you say your prayers with 
tears in your eyes." I found that he was offend- 
ed at me. He soon became quiet, and we slept 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



347 



soundly. . The next morning, when this man was 
sober, he was more kind and attentive to me than 
to any of the company, and directed me to a Me- 
thodist family with whom I might lodge that night, 
on Short Creek. This was Sunday morning ; but I 
pursued my journey to that settlement. That day 
my young fellow-traveler left me, and took the 
road to Wheeling; the old man kept with me. 
In the evening we came to the house the hunter 
directed me to ; but the good man and his wife had 
gone to a prayer meeting, and there was no one 
at home but some small children. I, however, 
being so well acquainted with backwoods hos- 
pitality, particularly Methodist hospitality toward 
their preachers, took the liberty of stopping there. 
We soon took our bed, in the usual way, before 
the fire ; and the children went to bed also. 
When the man and his wife came home, and found 
two fellows lying before the fire, they were quite 
surprised. I roused up, and told them how mat- 
ters were, and who I was ; and apologized for the 
freedom I had taken. They appeared to be quite 
glad, and inquired if we had had any supper. I 
said, No. Nothing would satisfy them now, but 
our getting up and having supper ; and the good 
sister set about getting supper in earnest. These 
dear people were so remarkably kind and hospi- 
table, that my old friend, who was not at all ac- 
quainted with the Methodists, was quite amazed ; 
and said to me next day, " These people seemed 



348 



RECOLLECTIOXS OF 



to be as glad to see you, and as kind, as if they 
had been long acquainted with you." 

The next day I crossed the Ohio River ; but in 
consequence of resting myself and horse several 
days, and calling on many friends by the way, 
I did not reach home till about the middle of 
April, where I rested and refitted, by getting a 
new suit of clothes. The Baltimore Conference 
was held at the Stone Chapel, Baltimore county, 
that year. The evening before conference began 
I met with Bishop Asbury, and about a dozen of 
the preachers, at Robert N. Carnan's. I had not 
seen the bishop, until then, from the hour he 
ordained me deacon, in Baltimore, October 2oth, 
1795. He made many inquiries about the west; 
and, looking at me, said, " Where did you get that 
coat ?" " I bought it, sir." " Did they give you 
any money ?" " Yes, sir, they gave me forty 
dollars." He then said, " You have been there 
long enough ; you must come away from there : 
I ^11 send some one in your place." " Very well, 
sir." At this conference I first saw Richard 
"Whatcoat, Jesse Lee, Enoch George, and William 
M'Kendree. I heard the last named preach, May 
4, 1800, the day of my ordination to elder's orders. 
It may not be improper here to notice the cases of 
three able ministers which were brought up at this 
conference. They were men of excellent stand- 
ing among us, and had some years before re- 
ceived, what we then called, a dispensation from 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



849 



the conference, and went into business to provide 
for their families. It was thought they could and 
ought to do effective service ; and a motion was 
made to locate them. This brought on some 
debate. Henry Willis, and John Chalmers, jun., 
were present, and plead their cause manfully. 
Brother Willis, being a man of affliction, had his 
relation to the conference continued ; but brothers 
Chalmers and Nelson Keed were both located 
without their consent, and one of them even without 
his knowledge. Whatever bearing this act of 
the conference might have had upon the feelings 
of these brethren, they did not proclaim war 
against the conference, or even carry an appeal to 
the General Conference, which was just at hand. 
At this conference, the preachers — for the last 
time, I think — were called upon to give an account 
of their presents and marriage fees. 

The General Conference was held in Baltimore, 
and began on the 6th of May, 1800. At this 
conference the preacher's salary was raised from 
sixty-four to eighty dollars ; but still no provision 
was made for a preacher's family. Doctor Coke 
was present, and the episcopacy was strengthened 
by the election and ordination of Richard Whatcoat. 
In several ballotings, there was a tie between Lee 
and Whatcoat ; when one of the members made a 
motion that the candidates should not vote. The 
next balloting gave a majority of only two votes to 
Whatcoat. Strange as it may seem, many of the 



350 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



preachers were strenuously opposed to raising their 
own salaries. Jesse Lee and Nicholas Snethen^ two 
of the principal men in the conference, w^ere op- 
posed to it ; and, I believe, our backwoods boys, 
to a man, voted against it. This was the best 
General Conference I ever attended in Baltimore, 
or anywhere else. 

The preachers literally preached all over the 
city : in churches, in the streets, on Cheapside, in 
the market-house, in a yard in Old Town, in pri- 
vate houses, &c. ; and mighty was the power that 
attended the word. It was thought that one 
hundred souls were brought to God. During the 
General Conference I waited on the bishop to 
know whom he had got to go to Scioto. He said, 
"Brother S. ;" but brother S. heard of it, of 
course ; it made him sick, and he went to bed. I 
inquired of the bishop the second time whom he 
had got for Scioto. He said, " No one but brother 
S." I then took the liberty of saying to the 
bishop that I had suffered a good deal there, and 
the way was now open, and that I knew the peo- 
ple, and that the man he had appointed would not 
suit the place ; and that if he would permit me, 
I would go back. He looked earnestly at me, 
and smiled ; took me by the chin, and said, "You 
may go ; but you won't come back." That pre- 
diction had nearly been accomplished ; for I was 
three or four times brought to death's door. But, 
perhaps, this was not what the bishop meant ; he 



AN OLD ITINERANT. 



351 



might have thought I had some engagement there ; 
and in those days to mai^ry and to locate meant 
nearly the same thing. In wishing to return to 
Scioto, I had nothing but the glory of God and 
the good of the people in view. I knew them, 
and loved them, and many of them loved me. At 
the same time I knew that many were much bet- 
ter qualified to give tone to Methodism there than 
I was ; but I thought I could get a better supply 
from the Western Conference the following fall. 
I knew they were hardy fellows, and inured to 
hardships, and as willing to suffer in the cause of 
Christ as any other men. It would be unin- 
teresting to give a detail of my return through 
the wilderness ; my fare was much the same as 
when I came in. Yours, &c., 

Henry Smith. 



LETTER VI. 

Dear Sir, — I will now finish, by giving some 
further account of my labors and sufferings while 
on Scioto. I got safe back to Chilicothe by the 
2 2d of June, 1800, and found my brother-in-law 
and his family there. I started in great haste to 
overtake my appointment on Scioto Brush Creek, 
but was taken sick, and had to return to town, 
where I continued unwell all the week, but rode 
down to Pee-Pee on Saturday, and filled my ap- 



S52 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD ITtNERANT. 

pointments there. I need not say that m j friends 
were glad to see me. But, alas ! it was a sum- 
mer of great affliction, and death was spreading 
desolation among the people. Everything looked 
dreary and discouraging. I, myself, had a very 
severe spell of bilious fever : life was despaired 
of, but Christ was precious ; and, by the mercy 
of God and the use of means, I was raised up 
again. Venturing out too soon, I had a relapse 
at the house of my friend, William Burkitt. As 
soon as I was able to ride, I turned out again ; 
and, being much exposed, I relapsed again and 
again. About this time it was reported that I was 
dead ; my poor sister, in Chilicothe, had just got 
the news, and was grieving about me, when I 
came and knocked at the door of her house. When 
I stepped in, they could hardly believe their own 
eyes ; but they saw that I was still alive, and there 
was great joy. I was prevented from attending 
the Western Conference in the fall, by afflic- 
tion. No one could give any particular ac- 
count of Henry Smith, or what he was doing, only 
that he had been sick. So I was continued an- 
other year on Scioto without help. No preacher 
was sent to Miami that year. This was a mourn- 
ful state of things ; only one poor, sickly, itinerant 
preacher, for all the lower part of the North- 
western Territory. Henry Smith. 



THE END. 



